🔋 Real Value Requires Real Energy

Happy Friday, In A Nutshell this week:

• 🔋 Real Value Requires Real Energy

• 🚫 Pub Plans Pulled by the Bank

• 🇬🇧 Farage Doubles Down on Self-Sovereignty

• 💬 Private Messaging Needs Private Payments

• 🦅 The U.S. Seized Reserve

• 🌊 Largest Liquidation in History

• …and much more

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 🚀⏰ Today’s news should be a ~5.27-minute read (816 words).

🧠 Quote Of The Week

“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.”

— Abraham Lincoln

🔋 Real Value Requires Real Energy

Elon Musk has praised Bitcoin’s energy-based design, calling it impossible to fake, unlike fiat currency.

He said, “You can issue fake fiat currency, and every government in history has done so, but it’s impossible to fake energy.”

Proof-of-work sets Bitcoin apart, tying it to real-world value and making it resistant to government money printing.

🚫 Pub Plans Pulled by the Bank

After preparing to accept Bitcoin, The Castle in Farnham will sadly not be proceeding, after their bank warned that doing so could trigger investigations or even freeze accounts.

The pub had been working with Bridge2Bitcoin to set up the necessary infrastructure, but the risk was too high to move forward.

Despite ongoing engagement with MPs, advisors, and regulators, the incident highlights that banks still have the ability to restrict legal business operations and potential new revenue streams.

🇬🇧 Farage Doubles Down on Self-Sovereignty

Nigel Farage has announced plans to create a UK Bitcoin reserve using £5B in seized assets.

Alongside this, he has vowed to block the Bank of England’s proposed digital pound CBDC, pledged to cut Bitcoin capital gains tax from 24% to 10%, and confirmed that Reform UK has become the first major party to accept Bitcoin donations.

He said his plan would allow taxpayers to pay in Bitcoin and prevent banks from “debanking” lawful Bitcoin users.

Full clip

💬 Private Messaging Needs Private Payments

Signal keeps messages private. Now the same privacy is possible for payments with Cashu’s Bitcoin app integration.

The proof-of-concept shows how sending money to friends could be as simple and private as sending a message. The experience is instant, seamless, and protects user privacy.

It’s still just a concept, but supporting initiatives like this could help bring private, peer-to-peer Bitcoin payments into everyday apps for millions.

Share #bitcoinforsignal

🦅 The U.S. Seized Reserve

US authorities have seized $15 billion in Bitcoin, boosting their government holding to an enormous $36 billion.

The funds are tied to Chen Zhi, the alleged head of a massive crypto fraud network. Chen remains at large while facing charges of wire fraud and money laundering.

This challenges the narrative that Bitcoin is only for criminals, showing that its distributed ledger allows authorities to trace, and in this case seize, illicit holdings.

🌊 Largest Liquidation in History

Bitcoin has remained volatile as the dust settles following the largest-ever liquidation event in history, wiping out $19 billion across the crypto market.

The crash followed panic selling triggered by the threat of 100% U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports and export controls, pushing Bitcoin down 14% from recent highs.

While the dip may seem minor over the long term, it exposed the massive leverage in the market, particularly among altcoins. Some analysts suggest this could finally trigger a rotation of capital from these risky tokens into Bitcoin, the only truly decentralised digital asset.

😰 2008 Banking Bailouts, To Backing Bitcoin

Vijay Selvam, International General Counsel at Gemini and author of Principles of Bitcoin, discusses Bitcoin through the lens of law, markets, and first principles.

He shares lessons from his time at Freshfields, Davis Polk, Goldman Sachs, and the 2008 crisis, explaining how that period shifted him from gold to “digital gold.”

We dive into what gives money value, why Bitcoin’s scarcity is path-dependent, and how thinking across technology, economics, politics, and philosophy avoids the usual siloed mistakes.

The episode is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify

🔊 More Speakers Announced for Bitcoin | A Competitive Advantage

We’ve dropped two more heavy-hitting speakers to the lineup for Bitcoin | A Competitive Advantage on Friday, 21st November, Derby:

• Martin Kuchař — Co-founder of BTC Prague

• Neil McCann — Founder & CEO of McCann Bespoke London

From business leaders to independent thinkers, if you're taking action or ready to start, this conference is for you.

🎟️ Day tickets are now available, grab yours whilst you can!

🔥 What else have you missed?

1. Bitcoin Core release heavily debated v30.0

2. Strategy are coming for dividend investors

3. Aqua launch the Bitcoin spending Dolphin Card

4. Vaneck predict by 2050 a Bitcoin price of $3,000,000

5. Larry Fink explains Bitcoins gold like role

6. Australian citizens are lining up to buy gold

7. Citi bank to launch Bitcoin custody services in 2026

8. Compass Coffee first to accept Bitcoin on a Square terminal

🍾 Friday Fun!

This week’s crossword is now live - Play here

🧞‍♂️ Your wish is our command