I’m joined by guests Rob Hamilton, Ben Carman & Pablo to go through the list.

Listen on your favorite podcast app:

Vulnerability Disclosures

  • 00:01:27 GoFetch: “Unpatchable vulnerability in Apple chip leaks secret encryption keys” [Arstechnica]
    • A vulnerability has been discovered in Apple’s M-series chips, allowing attackers to extract secret keys from Macs during cryptographic operations.
    • The flaw stems from the microarchitectural design of the chips and cannot be patched directly.
    • The vulnerability exploits the chips’ data memory-dependent prefetcher, which predicts memory addresses and can leak information through a side channel.
    • Mitigating the vulnerability requires additional defenses such as ciphertext blinding, potentially doubling computing resources needed.
    • Apple’s latest chip, the M3, has a feature to disable the vulnerable prefetcher, but the performance penalty of doing so is yet to be determined.
  • 00:04:38 Vulnerability discovered in ViaBTC’s SPV mining code [Bitcoin Developer 0xB10C blog post]
    • Improper input validation in SPV mining module allows remote attack to waste hashrate.
    • Failure to verify merkle root in received blocks permits mining on old blocks.
    • ViaBTC confirms receipt, fixes vulnerability, and awards bounty.
    • Issue still exists in open-source viabtc_mining_server despite fixes in ViaBTC’s systems. [GitHub ViaBTC mining server issue #16]
  • 00:06:07 SIM swappers hijacking phone numbers in eSIM attacks [Bleeping Computer]
    • SIM swappers are targeting eSIMs to hijack phone numbers and bypass security measures to access bank accounts and other secure services.
    • eSIM technology allows for digital storage and reprogramming of subscriber identity modules on devices, promoting ease of transfer and increased adoption in modern smartphones and wearables.

Bitcoin

Software Releases & Project Updates

  • 00:07:31 Electrs
    • v0.10.4
      • Don’t fail mempool sync on missing transactions
      • Update dependencies (anyhow, crossbeam-channel, log, secp256k1, secp256k1-sys, smallvec, tempfile, termcolor, thiserror, thiserror-impl)
    • v0.10.3
      • Update dependencies (serde_json, tempfile, env_logger, rayon, bitcoin, crossbeam-channel, shlex)
  • 00:07:37 BDK v1.0.0-alpha.8
    • Migrates API to use the rust-bitcoin FeeRate type
    • Fixes PSBT finalization to remove extra taproot fields
    • Fixes blockchain scanning stop_gap definition and documentation
  • 00:07:48 UmbrelOS v1.0.0
    • Introduces new user interface: offer straightforward navigation and allow personalization of the home screen with widgets
    • Adds search function: find system settings, apps, or starting actions quickly
    • Quick Actions enable more direct interaction with apps and system settings
    • System architecture overhaul: improved stability, speed, and simplicity, including sending device type information for update customization
    • Provides live updates on the device’s storage, memory, and CPU usage
    • Expands language options
  • 00:08:03 Nunchuk-android
    • v1.9.43
      • New Onboarding flow for first-time users
      • New ‘Create hot wallet’ feature to quickly create a hot wallet for immediate use, and back it up later
      • New ‘Consolidate coins’ shortcut to make consolidation tasks easier
    • v1.9.42
      • Dashboard for assisted wallets
      • Improved alerts and health checks for assisted wallets
  • 00:08:09 Agora Desktop v1.1.25
    • Added additional warnings for trades
    • Fixed tab and radio button light theme colors
    • Added two languages
  • 00:08:14 RoboSats v0.6.0
    • Introduces the RoboSats Federation
    • Robot identity is now generated in client app, when previously created by the coordinator
    • Complete overhaul of the app architecture
    • Avatar hashid in Garage
    • Add robo-identity generator
    • Add docs translation for menus
    • Makes filtering by multiple payment methods in desktop possible
  • 00:08:19 Rust Payjoin
    • Payjoin v0.15.0
      • Introduce OhttpKeys type
      • Ser/de Enrolled with serde
      • Expose only public receive::Error
      • Name payjoin-directory and OHTTP relay according to BIP 77
    • Payjoin CLI v0.0.5
      • Fetch ohttp keys through CONNECT tunnel instead of manual configuration
      • Name payjoin-directory and OHTTP relay according to BIP 77
  • 00:08:26 ESP Miner
    • v2.1.3
      • Improved self test and when to run it, skipping BM1397
    • v2.1.2
      • Self_test
      • Add API section to readme.md
  • 00:09:22 Labelbase v2
    • Now available on Docker
    • Features:
    • Automated Output Management
    • Easy Import & Export
    • Seamless Synchronization
    • Efficient Label Management
    • Flexible Hosting Options
    • On-Demand Support
  • 00:10:15 Brainbow v0.1.150
    • Low-Entropy Warning
    • Offline-Mode
  • 00:10:28 BTC Pay Server v1.13.0 (Pre-release)
    • Server Settings: Customize instance name and add contact URL
    • Admin overview of the stores on the instance
    • Onboarding: Invite new users
    • POS: Add item list to keypad
    • Wallet: Support BBQr PSBTSs
  • 00:11:10 Blockstream Jade firmware v1.0.28
    • Added:
    • Feature to change PIN on next login/unlock
    • Option to change PIN of currently unlocked Jade using QR codes
    • Changed:
    • More thorough new wallet phrase words confirmation (every word displayed, 1 in 3 verified)
    • Changed pinserver oracle protocol to only require a single roundtrip, exchanging a single base64-encoded string
    • UI code changes to improve spacing/centering of text labels in general
    • Tweaks to fetching the liquid master blinding key so the caller can predict whether Jade will block while awaiting user approval
    • Update libwally to 1.2.0
  • 00:11:26 Blockstream Green
    • iOS
    • v4.0.26
      • Update breez to 0.3.6
    • v4.0.25
      • Import and export of liquid accounts with ct-descriptors
      • Allow changing btc unit in watch-only wallets
      • UI improvement in onboarding
      • Make Lightning Shortcut opt-out
      • Improve UI on Jade exporting liquid master blinding key
      • Update gdk to 0.70.3
    • Android
    • v4.0.26
    • Bump Breez version to 0.3.6
    • v4.0.25
    • Enable Singlesig Liquid watch-only descriptors
    • New app setting “Remember hardware device”
    • Add metadata for F-Droid build
    • Handle “master blinding key” for advanced jade users
  • 00:11:36 Trezor
    • v24.3.3
    • The Polygon (PoS) network, along with its native currency MATIC, has joined the EVM compatible networks in Trezor Suite.
    • Introducing token definitions to enhance security by distinguishing between legitimate and unrecognized tokens. Additionally, identifying NFT spam in Polygon transactions improves overall transaction clarity and security.
    • Trezor hardware wallet settings now support German, French, and Spanish languages in Beta
    • v24.3.2
    • Polygon network and native currency, MATIC, now supported within Trezor Suite
    • Introduction of token definitions to help differentiate between legitimate and unrecognized tokens
    • Settings have been updated to support German, French, and Spanish languages
  • 00:11:56 Ledger app-bitcoin-new v2.2.0
    • Support for miniscript on taproot wallet policies
    • Warning if the fees are above 10% of the amount
    • Change: Increased limits for the maximum in-memory size of wallet policies
  • 00:13:32 Casa launches Casa Inheritance - a feature for planning the inheritance of digital assets [Announcement]
    • Available with all new Casa memberships at no extra cost.
    • Supports the inheritance of BTC, ETH, USDC, and USDT.
    • Allows for self-custody with multiple encrypted keys to enhance security.
    • Enables sharing of an encrypted mobile key with a designated recipient for inheritance purposes.
    • Implements a six-month waiting period after the recipient requests access, with regular checks to confirm the original owner’s status.
    • After the waiting period, the recipient can access and manage the digital assets using the original owner’s mobile key and Casa’s recovery key.
    • No KYC required, offering global availability.
  • 00:21:28 Unchained launches iOS app [Announcement]
    • Buy $100,000+ of bitcoin 24/7/365 to your cold storage vault
    • View your portfolio and deposit bitcoin
    • Keep your bitcoin even if unchained goes away
    • Get security notifications about your account and lock it down if there is an issue
  • 00:23:58 The Bitcoin Company launches new remittance API [Announcement]
    • Enables instant cross-border payments to Mexico and Brazil.
    • Competes with traditional remittance services by offering a more efficient and cost-effective solution.
    • The company plans to expand into the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Project spotlight

  • 00:24:19 Teleport transactions: Advancements in Bitcoin privacy and security [No Bullshit Bitcoin]
    • Teleport transactions is a rust implementation of a variant of atomic-swap protocol, using HTLCs on Bitcoin.
    • Introduces binaries and libraries for a peer-to-peer Maxwell-Belcher CoinSwap protocol, enhancing Bitcoin transactions’ privacy and security.
    • Developer Rajarshi Maitra announces significant progress, including a one-line command to run the protocol suite, all operating over Tor for added anonymity.
    • The protocol now includes full recovery mechanisms, DNS servers, and a comprehensive client API.
    • The project is still in beta and experimental stages, with mainnet use not recommended due to potential bugs. [GitHub]
  • 00:24:40 dead-man-switch: Rust no-BS Dead Man’s Switch TUI
    • A guide provides a detailed approach on setting up and using the DMS, emphasizing ease of deployment, configuration, and operation
    • Easy to use and setup
    • Implemented in Rust
    • Very few dependencies and needs minimal resources
    • Sends a warning email before the final email
    • Send attachments with the final email
  • 00:24:59 BitCan
    • Durable, cost-effective method for safeguarding Bitcoin mnemonic seed phrases, using materials like a beer can
    • The process involves securely generating a mnemonic seed phrase, flattening an aluminum can, attaching a printed template, translating words into glyphs and etching glyphs onto the metal
    • The design aims to balance durability against paper wallets and metal plates, ensuring the storage medium isn’t easily deciphered by unintended observers
  • 00:26:41 Bitcoin-qr
    • “A zero-dependency, zero-framework QR code web component for Bitcoin on-chain, Lightning, and unified BIP-21 payments.”
    • Features include URI support for various payment methods, customizable styles, and polling for payment confirmation
    • Allows for easy integration into web projects with support for HTML and Sveltekit, and offers extensive customization options through API attributes and styles
  • 00:27:40 Speed Wallet launches Speed Rewards
    • Offers rewards for every transaction made using its Bitcoin Wallet, with rewards increasing at higher spending tiers
    • Rewards are earned in Speed points, which are redeemable for Bitcoin SATs, with the program featuring automatic enrollment
    • Program includes multiple tiers (Welcome, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum), each with its own benefits and thresholds for points and cashback rewards
    • Rewards never expire and are applicable on all purchases, with the redemption process taking up to 24 hours
  • 00:27:52 MicroBolt: self-hosted Bitcoin & Lightning full node [Github]
    • Fork of RaspiBolt and MiniBolt
    • A comprehensive guide for setting up a “do-everything-yourself” Bitcoin full node, compatible with various computers beyond Raspberry Pi’s

Privacy Software

Software Releases & Project Updates

  • 00:30:13 Unleashed.chat v0.1.19
    • We now have a Nostr DVM that can summarize text inputs using our Mistral 7B model. More models and request types coming soon! You can test it out with a Nostr DVM client like vendata.
    • You can now start a chat with a data source right from the “Files and Data Sources” table. Just click on the three dots at the end of the row and select “Start Chat”.
    • Small bugfixes.
  • 00:32:01 SimpleX v5.6.0
    • Quantum resistant end-to-end encryption in direct chats (beta)
    • Data migration feature allow users to transfer all data to a new device using XFTP relays and a QR code
    • App now usable during audio and video calls
    • Admins can block a member for all other members
    • Leaving and deleting groups is now faster
    • Filtering chats no longer includes muted chats with unread messages
    • Reduced memory usage when sending large files
    • Desktop: scrollbars in all views with the scrolling
    • iOS: add Hungarian interface language

Project spotlight

  • 00:32:43 Mynymbox: anonymous hosting
    • Offers anonymous domain registration, web hosting and VPS
    • Servers located in Germany
    • Accepts bitcoin

Lightning + L2+

Software Releases & Project Updates

  • 00:32:55 Mutiny Node v0.6.0 - Social Release
    • Create nostr profile
    • Add firefox only on non-darwin systems’ flake.nix
    • Handle subscriptions created outside the app
    • Save privacy level to PaymentInfo
    • Generate node’s uuid deterministically
    • Increase wasm memory limit to 3mb
    • Handle a missing label activity item
    • Allow dm decrypting to fail
    • Expose waila through mutiny-wasm
    • Remove requirement for password for has_node_manager
    • Only check voltage invoice is within 10 sats
    • Add cashu token melting to mutiny-node
    • Lightning-liquidity alpha release
    • Upgrade lightning liquidity
    • Show in-flight fedimint sends
    • Add public and private zaps
    • Add any missing channel capacity to reserve
    • Support new NWC commands
    • Auto sync nostr profile
    • Add export_nsec
    • Handle no profile event when syncing nostr
    • Create index for sorted activity
    • Pin wasm-bindgen to same version as nix
    • Follow and Unfollow nostr contacts
    • Blindauth first pass
    • Use lightning-net-tokio for non-wasm builds
    • Mint discoverability
    • Add bindings for lightning address reservations
    • Add handling for changed nostr keys
    • Add has_recommended_federation
    • Better handling for marking DM’d invoices as paid
    • Add network to nostr discovery events
  • Breez SDK
    • v0.3.8
      • Signer connects immediately on startup
      • Adapt signer policy to allow paying zero amount invoice
    • v0.3.6
      • Fix swap INVOICE_AMOUNT_MISMATCH
      • Defer signer start to increase overall startup time
      • Reduce Chain Service load and usage
      • Improve performance by reusing Breez server grpc connection
  • 00:41:30 Acinq releases Phoenixd [No Bullshit Bitcoin]
    • Phoenixd is a specialized Lightning node for developers and businesses, enabling easy Lightning payments while maintaining self-custody.
    • It operates similarly to Phoenix Wallet but is designed for server use, offering an HTTP API and automated liquidity management for receive-heavy applications.
    • Key features include “infinite inbound” liquidity from the network’s largest node and minimal configuration requirements, making it highly accessible for developers.
    • Lightweight and compatible with multiple operating systems, including Linux, Mac, and Windows.
  • Rust Bitcoin Wizards: Boltz client library which lets you create non-custodial swaps between Lightning, Liquid and Bitcoin
  • 00:43:04 Alby lightning-browser-extension v3.7.0
    • Improved permission management for nostr: permission presets & kind-based permissions
    • Mac & iOS compatibility: Alby Extension now works in Safari on both iOS, macOS and iPadOS
    • Stablesats integration: view Blink stablesats balance in fiat
    • Improved onboarding flows
    • NIP44 encrypted messages support
    • New iconset
    • Multi-lingual setup wizard
    • Optimisations for smaller screens
    • Bug fixes and improvements for different connectors (LNC, Core Lightning)
  • 00:46:27 Nutshell
    • v0.15.2
      • Mint: Add Slowapi rate limiter
      • Mint: FakeWallet support for USD
    • v0.15.1
      • Introduces Blink as a Lightning backend for the mint
      • Release includes a database migration for the mint
      • Mints database back up is advised before upgrading
      • Mint: Add Blink as a Lightning funding source
      • Wallet: Token invalidation: add setting for batch size
  • 00:46:34 10101
    • v2.0.7
      • Overestimate funding TX fee when calculating max usable on-chain balance
      • Compute confirmations correctly
      • Calculate coordinator position PNL correctly
      • feat: introduce semantic versioning
    • v2.0.6
      • Keep context for TradingError::Other
      • feat: introduce dev-maker
      • feat: Add coordinator and trader funding collateral to dlc channels
    • v2.0.5
      • Prevent deadlock in webapp
      • Do not run CI on push to branch
      • feat(webapp/app): show pnl as percent
      • Improve coordinator and app node sync
      • Claim settle transaction funds after force-close
      • Trigger sub_channel_manager periodic check less often

Project spotlight

  • 00:46:41 Multinuteral payments: “Pay a single Lightning invoice from Ecash balances on multiple Cashu mints” [Twitter post]
    • Allow a single Lightning invoice to be paid from ecash balances across multiple Cashu mints using Lightning multi-path payments (MPP) to achieve atomicity.
    • Payments can now be made through multiple small transactions from different mints, all of which either succeed or fail together, without inter-mint communication and invisible to the receiver.
    • This innovation eliminates the need for inter-mint coin control, allowing wallets to display a unified balance across all mints and simplifying the payment process for the user.
  • 00:48:20 NLightning: a C# Lightning Network Implementation
    • “Aims to provide a robust and efficient implementation of the Lightning Network protocol in C#”
    • Adheres to the Basis of Lightning Technology (BOLT) standards for interoperability
  • 00:48:47 Hedgehog by Super Testnet: A protocol for improved layer two bitcoin payments [Announcement / Demo / Github]
  • 00:49:19 Boltz client: a swap client for Lightning node runners [Blog post]
    • Facilitates automated channel rebalancing with CLN or LND nodes support
    • Features include: CLN-first, Liquid-first, and Taproot-first approaches, alongside integrated wallets for Liquid and mainchain
    • Evolves from Boltz LND, written in Go, and aims to enhance the experience of Lightning and Bitcoin mainchain swaps
  • 00:49:25sats4ai: an open-source and private AI platform
    • Offers text, audio, image and vision generation
    • “No credit card, no signup, no KYC, no eyeball scanning required”
  • 00:50:23 PayPerQ: a bitcoin-powered chatbot service [Announcement]
    • PayPerQ is a chatbot that utilizes OpenAI’s API and Bitcoin to provide premium AI services globally
    • Operates on a pay-per-query model via Bitcoin micropayments
  • Bitcoin Mints from @makeprisms
    • List and review Cashu mints leveraging #nostr as the discoverability and identity layer
  • 00:51:33 L2.watch: Full list of existing and upcoming Layer 2s on Bitcoin
    • Website by Blockchair, tracking the Bitcoin L2 ecosystem

Nostr

Software Releases & Project Updates

  • 00:56:18 NDK v2.6
  • 00:57:48 Highlighter [v3.0]
  • 1:01:08 primal-web-app [Note]
    • Improved performance
    • New note reactions dialog
    • Automatic redirect from the new landing page
  • 1:01:20 rust-nostr v0.29.0
    • Handle no nwc request params better
    • Make encrypt_private_zap_message pub
    • Better functions for handling decrypting private zaps
    • nostr: not skip serialization of empty lists in Filter
    • nostr: add NIP44 calls to NIP07
    • pool: add RequestOptions
    • nostr: adapt EventBuilder::repost to last NIP18 changes
    • nostr: update EventBuilder::reaction constructor
    • add serialization and deserialization for RawEvent in nostr-ffi
    • Improve Relay
    • Improve subscription system
    • Remove trailing slash from relay in NWC uri
    • Allow to edit RelayLimits
    • add MetadataRecord for Metadata in nostr-ffi
    • nostr: add EventBuilder::text_note_reply
    • nostr: complete NIP51
  • 1:01:24 Nos.social v0.1.7
    • Update font styles on Thread, Edit Profile, and Settings screens.
    • Fix issue with uploading photos on Mac.
    • Re-design the confirmation dialog that appears when you delete your NIP-05.
    • Fixed a bug where liking a note could cause other notes to appear liked.
    • Added a new UI for replying to messages that allows attaching images and setting an expiration date.
    • Fixed an issue where the “Read more” button could display on notes that didn’t need it.
  • 1:01:28 Coracle v0.4.4
    • Format time and date based on browser regional settings
    • Rename force_relays to platform_relays
    • Stop reading kind 3 relays
    • Publish q tags
    • Add sugggested relays based on follows
    • Improve invite creation
    • Added docker image
    • Code split by route
    • Add fixed footer for settings forms
    • Add claim query param to group detail
    • Add admin key import
    • Improve hashtag regex
    • Add rendering support for cashu tokens
  • 1:01:31 0xChat v1.2.7-beta
    • Privacy and Security:
      • Added Giphy privacy notice
      • Removed Android Firebase library
      • Implemented push notifications on Android using UniPush
      • Supporting manual upload of crash logs to developers by users
      • Fixed an issue where external links could be opened with 0xChat and sent to chat
    • Features:
      • Added wallet risk notice
      • Wallet supports the Nuts-11
      • Support for sending conditional eCash red packets (specified sender, multi-signature, expiration time)
      • Established 0xChat Mint as the default mint
      • Search optimization

Project spotlight

  • 1:03:26 Citrine: A Nostr relay in your phone
    • “Allows any nostr client that supports Android to send and receive events from this application.”
    • Future features:
      • Export full database
      • Export only events from your account
      • Manage the relay (port, icon, user, start, stop)
      • Add content resolvers

Boosts

  • 1:04:52 Thanks to everyone who streamed sats, and shoutout to our top boosters:
    • [🏆 TOP BOOSTER] @jcdenton (2,100 sats) â€œđŸ«Ąâ€
    • @zdoxed (1,000 sats) “People at cyberpunkhardware.co already working on tail USB idea you had though not on bsd yet. Jjust using dtails at the moment and testing, cubic and bootstrap2020. its an open place so all welcome to help make it better and takeaway what they need”
    • @geneeverett (123 sats) “Where can I find more information on cold cards? I’ve already bought some. I mean questions on technical end”
    • @satori (100) â€œđŸ€™đŸŒâ€

Bitcoin Optech Newsletter

  • 295
    • Disclosure of free relay attack: A bandwidth-wasting attack, involving the broadcast of multiple versions of a transaction to different network peers to waste their relay bandwidth.
    • Transaction fee sponsorship improvements:
      • Martin HabovĆĄtiak suggests a method for prioritizing transactions through a proposal similar to Jeremy Rubin’s 2020 concept, utilizing the taproot annex for more space-efficient commitments.
      • David Harding introduces an enhancement co-developed with Rubin that uses signature commitment messages for sponsor transactions, requiring no block space.
      • The discussion raises concerns about the potential impact of sponsorship on users and the Bitcoin network, emphasizing that any sponsorship feature should be opt-in.
    • Mempool-based feerate estimation:
      • “Abubakar Sadiq Ismail posted to Delving Bitcoin about improving Bitcoin Core’s feerate estimation using data from a node’s local mempool.”
      • Ismail’s proposed enhancement involves incorporating mempool data into the estimation process to provide more timely updates. Preliminary code and analysis demonstrate the potential benefits over the existing algorithm.
  • 294
  • 1:07:55 BIP324 proxy for light clients:
    • Sebastian Falbesoner posted to Delving Bitcoin to announce a TCP proxy for translating between the version 1 (v1) Bitcoin P2P protocol and the v2 protocol defined in BIP324.
    • The proxy aims to enable light client wallets, originally written for v1, to utilize v2’s traffic encryption for enhanced privacy.
    • Efforts are underway to rewrite the proxy in Rust, with considerations to make its functions available as a library for light clients or software seeking native support for the v2 Bitcoin P2P protocol.

News & Noteworthy

Bitcoin

  • 1:08:03 BitGo introduces replace by fee: now available for clients [Announcement]
    • RBF is available for BitGo’s range of Bitcoin wallets, including hot, custodial, and self-managed cold wallets.

Lightning

  • 1:10:23 Musqet: UK’s first integrated merchant payments platform on the Lightning Network
    • Musqet offers a Lightning terminal, “accepting debit, credit, phone and Bitcoin payments in a single device”
    • The device has built in 4G connectivity and integrates with ePoS terminals
    • Alternatively, a merchant app is available on web, iOS and Android

Nostr

  • 1:10:30 Nostr.org: A simple protocol splash page [Announcement]
    • “After a year of haggling with the domain troll who got nostr.org we managed to get it back! The site will forever be a pure/simple protocol splash page. Repo has committee of great nostr people to keep pure.” [Note]
  • 1:10:37 Damus Purple (v1.7) is officially released on the appstore [Announcement]

Business & Finance

  • 1:10:41 MicroStrategy Surpasses 1% of Total Bitcoin Supply [Announcement]
    • Acquires an additional 9,245 BTC for ~$623 million, reaching a total holding of 214,246 BTC.

Funding

Mining

  • 1:11:28 Stratum V2 releases SRI 1.0.0 [Blog post]
    • Aims to decentralize and improve bitcoin mining, ready for testing and integration.
    • Allows miners to connect to SV2 pools without upgrading firmware or directly with SV2 firmware; supports running own bitcoin node for template construction.
    • Pools can now deploy a simple SV2 Pool or integrate SV2 into existing operations.
    • Implements pool fallback functionality for miners if a pool censors templates, ensuring miners’ interests.
  • 1:11:40 Marathon Digital Holdings Releases Industry-Leading Bitcoin Mining Firmware and Control Board [Press release]
    • Introduce MARAFW and MARA UCB 2100, firmware and control board aimed at improving Bitcoin mining rigs’ performance, efficiency, and versatility.
    • MARAFW offers features for optimizing chip settings for better performance and efficiency, including options for overclocking and thermal protection.
    • MARA UCB 2100, designed in-house, supports various rigs and comes preloaded with MARAFW.
    • Development and testing over the past year have led to deployment across Marathon’s fleet of over 200,000 mining rigs.
  • Braiins Mining acquires Krater [Announcement]
  • “We’re proud to have acquired the tech & team behind Krater’s mining management system”
  • Integrated within Braiins Manager, this tool will improve remote miner control and curtain mining ops.
  • “Perfect” MARA Logo inscribed by @PortlandHODL

Privacy

  • Whack-A-Mole: Samourai announces Stage 1 of decentralized Whirlpool [Blog post]
    • The update removes reliance on a single coordinator server for mixing clients, enabling automatic coordinator server discovery through the encrypted Soroban network, minimizing potential downtime.

Protocol

  • Bitcoin Core 27.0 Release Candidate [Announcement]
    • A release candidate for the next major version of Bitcoin Core is available for testing.
    • The testing guide “outlines some of the upcoming Bitcoin Core 27.0 release changes and provides steps to help test them.”
  • Arctic: Lightweight and Stateless Threshold Schnorr Signatures
    • Introduces Arctic, “a lightweight two-round threshold Schnorr signature that is deterministic, and therefore does not require participants to maintain state between signing rounds.”
    • Develops Shine, an efficient Verifiable Pseudorandom Secret Sharing (VPSS) construction.
  • BitVM 2 draft writeup: Permissionless verification on Bitcoin [Announcement]
  • Introduces a mechanism allowing anyone to act as a verifier, overcoming previous limitations that required verifiers to be predefined at compile time.
  • It reduces the setup complexity and the maximum trial length to two rounds, enhancing trust assumptions and simplifying the design.
  • The system enables permissionless challenge of invalid assertions, significantly reducing the on-chain footprint by optimizing the balance between prover’s commitments and verifier’s script size.

Government & Political

  • EU Parliament’s lead committees approve new anti-money laundering laws for service providers. [MEP Patrick Beyer article]
    • Bans on anonymous cash payments over €3,000 and complete ban over €10,000 in business transactions.
    • Prohibition on anonymous payments in cryptocurrencies to hosted wallets, regardless of amount.
  • El Salvador announces plan to use nuclear in its energy mix
    • The Ministry of Energy, Hydrocarbons, and Mines, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and the International Atomic Energy Agency have announced the news on March 22, 2024 in a [Twitter post]
  • President Bukele reveals El Salvador’s Bitcoin Address [Twitter post]

Events

  • Bitcoin Policy Summit
    • A conference for policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by digital currencies
  • CheatCode:
    • “Bitcoin’s unique properties make it a CheatCode in personal finance, economics and business”
    • Half conference, half football event
    • April 11-13 in Bedford, UK

Episode submission ideas

  • We’re looking for ideas for interesting panel conversations. To send Bitcoin related questions, just go to bitcoin.review and follow the contact links at the bottom of the page.

Get in touch with the pod

Did I get anything wrong above? Help me correct it producer@coinkite.com