The dust has settled after Bitcoin’s highly anticipated fourth block reward halving, with the world’s most popular cryptocurrency clinging to the $63,700 mark. This event, which cuts the number of new Bitcoins awarded to miners by 50%, has historically been a catalyst for price surges. While a significant jump hasn’t materialized yet, analysts remain cautiously optimistic about Bitcoin’s future trajectory.

The halving, which took place on April 19th, 2024, sliced the miner reward from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC. This programmed scarcity is a fundamental tenet of Bitcoin’s design, aiming to mimic the finite supply of precious metals like gold. In theory, a reduced supply with consistent demand should drive prices upwards.

However, the immediate aftermath of the halving has been marked by relative stability. This could be due to several factors. Firstly, some analysts believe the market may have already “priced in” the halving, meaning the anticipation of the event had already been reflected in Bitcoin’s price leading up to it.

Secondly, there’s a growing focus on Bitcoin’s utility beyond just a store of value. The Ordinals protocol, which allows for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to be inscribed directly onto the Bitcoin blockchain, has sparked excitement and could potentially attract new users and investment.

“This is the first halving in which major U.S. asset managers are actively educating themselves and their clients about Bitcoin,” said Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital. “There’s a growing recognition of Bitcoin’s potential as a hedge against inflation and a long-term investment.”

While the short-term price action might be muted, the halving’s long-term impact remains to be seen. Historically, significant price increases have followed halving events. After the May 2020 halving, for example, Bitcoin went on a meteoric rise, surging from $9,500 to a peak of over $65,000 within a year.

This time around, the macroeconomic environment is different. Inflation concerns and potential interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve could create headwinds for Bitcoin. However, proponents argue that Bitcoin’s unique characteristics, particularly its decentralization and limited supply, could make it an attractive asset class in times of economic uncertainty.

One key metric to watch in the coming weeks and months will be miner behavior. With their rewards halved, miners may need to adjust their operations to remain profitable. This could lead to increased competition within the mining pool, potentially driving transaction fees higher.

The recent halving marks a significant milestone in Bitcoin’s history. While the immediate price impact remains to be seen, the event has undoubtedly reignited discussions about Bitcoin’s long-term viability as a digital asset and a potential hedge against inflation. With institutional interest growing and the Ordinals protocol offering new use cases, Bitcoin’s future remains an intriguing story to watch unfold.

The already perplexing question of Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity has taken another turn with the emergence of dozens of purported emails from the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin. Shared by early Bitcoin developer Martti Malmi (known by the alias Sirius), these messages offer a glimpse into Nakamoto’s thought process and interactions during the cryptocurrency’s infancy.

Malmi, who began collaborating with Nakamoto in 2009, released the emails on Github. The correspondence sheds light on Nakamoto’s technical expertise, their concerns about potential criticisms of Bitcoin (including its energy consumption), and their views on other emerging cryptocurrencies like Ripple (XRP).

The emails also hold significance in the ongoing legal battle between Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist, and the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA). Wright has repeatedly claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, but COPA strongly refutes this. The newly surfaced emails are being used as evidence against Wright, with COPA arguing they expose inconsistencies between his claims and Nakamoto’s actual communication style.

While the authenticity of the emails remains unverified, experts believe they hold value regardless. “Even if they aren’t definitively from Satoshi, they offer valuable insights into the early days of Bitcoin development,” says Dr. Anya Perkins, a cryptography researcher at Stanford University. “The technical discussions and the way they’re phrased align with what we know about Nakamoto’s coding style from the Bitcoin whitepaper.”

The content of the emails has sparked renewed interest in Nakamoto’s identity. Some point to the messages’ clear and concise language as evidence that Nakamoto was a native English speaker. This disrupts theories suggesting Nakamoto originated from a non-English speaking country.

However, others caution against drawing definitive conclusions. “It’s important to remember that anyone can write with a certain style,” warns investigative journalist Robert Vance, who has been following the Nakamoto mystery for years. “These emails could have been meticulously crafted by someone else trying to throw us off the trail.”

The emergence of these emails highlights the enduring fascination with Satoshi Nakamoto. Whether they provide a breakthrough or simply add another layer to the enigma remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the hunt for Bitcoin’s creator is far from over.

Veteran Bitcoin investor Roger Ver has rebuffed a recent olive branch extended by Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream and a prominent figure in Bitcoin Core development. Ver, a vocal critic of the current state of Bitcoin and a strong proponent of Bitcoin Cash (BCH), remains unconvinced that Bitcoin aligns with its original vision.

The tension stems from Ver’s recently published book, “Hijacking Bitcoin: The Hidden History of BTC.” In it, Ver argues that Bitcoin Core developers have strayed from Satoshi Nakamoto’s vision of a peer-to-peer electronic cash system, prioritizing security over scalability. This, according to Ver, has rendered Bitcoin unsuitable for mainstream adoption due to high transaction fees and slow processing times.

Following the book’s release, Back offered a reconciliatory message on Twitter, stating, “We all want Bitcoin to succeed. Let’s find common ground & build together again.” However, Ver’s response in an interview with Decrypt Media was unequivocal.

“While I appreciate the sentiment,” Ver said, “unfortunately, the core development team has taken Bitcoin in a direction that I believe is fundamentally incompatible with its original goals. Scaling solutions like Layer-2 that they promote are just sticking plasters on a bullet wound.”

Ver emphasizes his belief that Bitcoin Cash, with its larger block size and focus on transaction throughput, is the true heir to Satoshi’s vision. He points to the recent rise in BCH adoption by merchants and its overall lower transaction fees as evidence of its utility.

“Bitcoin Cash is functioning exactly as intended,” Ver asserted. “Transactions are fast and cheap, making it a viable alternative for everyday payments. We are building the peer-to-peer electronic cash system that Satoshi always envisioned.”

Ver’s comments reignite a long-standing debate within the cryptocurrency community. Bitcoin Core supporters argue that larger block sizes compromise security, while BCH proponents believe that security can be maintained with careful implementation.

This back-and-forth highlights the ongoing struggle to define Bitcoin’s future. With Ver firmly entrenched in the BCH camp, it appears the cryptocurrency landscape will continue to see competition between these two prominent forks of the original Bitcoin blockchain.

Worldcoin, a non-profit organization that is aiming to create a global identity network akin to India’s Aadhaar, has already signed up over 2.4 million people to have their irises scanned by Worldcoin’s “orb” devices in exchange for a digital ID and free cryptocurrency. Privacy campaigners have raised concerns that the database could be misused.

The organization’s goal is to create a universal identity system that can be used to access a variety of services, such as financial services, healthcare, and education. The organization believes that this would help to reduce poverty and inequality around the world.

However, privacy campaigners have raised concerns about the security of the Worldcoin database. They argue that the database could be used by governments or other organizations to track and monitor people. They also argue that people may not be fully aware of the risks involved in sharing their iris scans with Worldcoin.

Worldcoin has said that it takes data privacy very seriously. The organization has said that it will only use iris scans for the purpose of verifying identity and that it will not share the scans with anyone else. The organization has also said that it will encrypt the scans and store them securely.

Despite these assurances, privacy campaigners remain concerned about the Worldcoin project. They argue that the potential risks of the project outweigh the potential benefits.

It is still too early to say whether Worldcoin will be successful in its mission to create a global identity network. The organization faces a number of challenges, including the need to gain the trust of users and the need to address privacy concerns.

Key takeaways:

• Worldcoin is a non-profit organization that is aiming to create a global identity network akin to India’s Aadhaar.
• The organization has already signed up over 2.4 million people to have their irises scanned in exchange for a digital ID and free cryptocurrency.
• Privacy campaigners have raised concerns about the security of the Worldcoin database.
• Worldcoin has said that it takes data privacy very seriously and that it will only use iris scans for the purpose of verifying identity and that it will not share the scans with anyone else.
• It is still too early to say whether Worldcoin will be successful in its mission to create a global identity network.

Additional information:

• Worldcoin website: https://worldcoin.org/
• India’s Aadhaar system: https://www.india.gov.in/application-aadhar-card
• Privacy campaigners’ concerns about Worldcoin: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/worldcoin-draws-attention-due-to-privacy-concerns/7224177.html

Privacy campaigners have raised concerns that the Worldcoin project could lead to a mass surveillance system. They argue that the iris scans collected by Worldcoin could be used to track and monitor people’s movements and activities. They also argue that the data could be used to discriminate against people or to target them for advertising or other purposes.

Worldcoin has said that it takes privacy very seriously and that it will only use the iris scans collected for the purpose of verifying identity. The organization has also said that it will not share the scans with anyone else. However, privacy campaigners remain concerned about the project and have called for it to be halted until more safeguards are put in place.

The Worldcoin project is a controversial one, and it is likely to continue to be debated for some time. Only time will tell whether the project will be successful or whether it will be seen as a major privacy failure.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against Kraken, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, alleging that the platform failed to register as an unregistered securities exchange. The SEC claims that Kraken has been selling unregistered securities in the form of digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The SEC’s complaint outlines several charges against Kraken, including:

• Offering and selling digital assets that are considered securities under federal law without registering with the SEC.
• Failing to comply with the SEC’s custody rule, which requires broker-dealers to safeguard customer assets.
• Engaging in misleading and deceptive practices in connection with the sale of digital assets.

The SEC is seeking a permanent injunction barring Kraken from further violating federal securities laws, as well as disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus interest, civil penalties, and a conduct-based injunction restricting Kraken’s business activities.

Kraken has denied the SEC’s allegations, claiming that its platform is compliant with all applicable laws and regulations. The company has also stated that it is “fully cooperating” with the SEC’s investigation.

The SEC’s action against Kraken is the latest in a series of regulatory crackdowns on cryptocurrency exchanges. Earlier this year, the SEC sued two other major exchanges, Coinbase and Binance, for similar violations.

The SEC’s actions reflect a growing concern among regulators about the risks associated with cryptocurrency trading. These risks include the potential for market manipulation, fraud, and investor harm.

The SEC’s lawsuit against Kraken could have a significant impact on the cryptocurrency industry. If the SEC is successful in its case, it could force other cryptocurrency exchanges to register with the agency, which would subject them to additional regulatory oversight.

This could lead to increased compliance costs for cryptocurrency exchanges, which could be passed on to customers in the form of higher fees. Additionally, the SEC’s action could make it more difficult for cryptocurrency exchanges to operate in the United States.

The SEC’s lawsuit against Kraken is still in its early stages, and it remains to be seen how the case will be resolved. However, the outcome of the case could have a significant impact on the future of the cryptocurrency industry.