Bitcoin Veterans

Fifth Generation Warfare - Bitcoin Veterans Summit 2025

-Security Concerns- 1. Firefox's Big Redesign Gives You a Button to Kill All the AI: Mozilla unveiled Project Nova on May 21—a full visual overhaul of Firefox rolling out later this year. Mozilla is redesigning its settings with plain-language controls that make privacy choices easier to act on—including, per the official announcement, "controls for turning off AI features entirely." No buried menus. No dark patterns. Just an off button. The timing couldn't be better. Chrome has been quietly installing an undeletable 4GB Gemini Nano model on its users’ PCs. (Decrypt) (AC-Firefox has been one of the better privacy-based browsers for years, with the ability to configure it based on personal sercurity settings that other browsers won't even consider.) -Technology and Science- 1. China sends astronaut on year-long space mission as it eyes 2030 moon landing: China sent three astronauts to its space station on Sunday, one of whom will stay for a ​year, a record length for the country, enabling the study of long-duration human physiology in space as Beijing works towards its ambition of a crewed moon ‌landing by 2030. China has sent astronauts to its space station almost a dozen times, but this ​launch comes amid an accelerating race to the moon with the U.S., which has warned about what it alleges are Beijing's plans to colonise and mine lunar territory and resources. (Reuters) (AC-The race for moonbases shifts into high gear.) -Bitcoin Community 1. Now You Can Buy Bitcoin, XRP and More in ChatGPT via MoonPay: MoonPay has brought crypto purchases directly into ChatGPT, allowing users to generate checkout links to buy digital assets, including Bitcoin, XRP, Solana, and USDC, without leaving OpenAI’s chatbot. In the app, users can ask ChatGPT about their favorite cryptocurrency and then ask the chatbot to buy a specified amount. ChatGPT will generate a MoonPay checkout link that takes the user to the MoonPay website to go through the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) process and link their wallet. (Decrypt) (AC-Use with caution.) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 30/100 (Up 2 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 950,953 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 25May2026 Precedence: Routine (RR)       Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Iran Ceasefire 'This Close' / China Sends Rice and Solar Panels to Cuba / Israeli Strikes in Lebanon Kill 6 Medics /  Chinese Money Behind US Protests of All Shapes / White House Entrance Shooter Killed By USSS / 42 Aircraft Downed in 'Epic Fury', Most are Drones / Fed May Open Rails For Crypto Firms / SEC Pauses Stock Tokenization / NY Lawsuit States Claim Over 3 Million Dormant Bitcoin / Whale Moves $200M in BTC / BTC Options Coming to Nasdaq / Markets on Edge / Firefox Brower to Have "Off Button" For All AI / China Sends 3 to Space / You Can Buy Bitcoin Through ChatGPT Now Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $77,946, 16.95 oz Gold/1 BTC, 5.57 BTC/Median US House 24hr Hi: $77,602 / Lo: $76,019 Volume: $21B (Down 27%) Mkt Cap: $1.54T (Even) Hashrate: .983 ZH/s   Avg Fee Rate: 1.0 sats/byte (Down 1 sat) ---Reports---   -International Events- 1. Trump tells US negotiators 'not to rush' into deal with Iran: The deal under discussion reportedly involves a 60-day ceasefire extension, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and a plan for further negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme. Both Trump and the Iranian Foreign Minister announed that a deal is 'very close'. (BBC) 2. Cuba thanks China for rice shipment amid worsening humanitarian conditions: Cuba has announced the first shipment in an expected donation from China of about 60,000 tonnes of rice, as the Caribbean island contends with an ongoing humanitarian crisis. In a series of social media posts on Sunday, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel confirmed that the first load of 15,000 tonnes had arrived a day earlier in the port of Havana. Already, China has donated solar panels to Cuba to help update its ageing energy grid and transition the island away from fossil fuels. (AlJazeera) 3. Israeli strikes kill six Lebanese medics in 24 hours: According to Lebanon's health ministry, an Israeli strike overnight Thursday into Friday in the southern Lebanese town of Hanaway killed four paramedics from the Islamic Health Association. On Friday morning, an Israeli strike killed two medics from the Al-Rissala Scouts Association in Deir Qanoun En-Nahr. (Reuters) -US Events- 1. Agitators united by Chinese money, hate for America target data centers, experts warn: Climate activists, anti-Israel protesters and other activist movements with very different agendas have become strange bedfellows united by a shared disdain for America and funding from China, according to experts who warn the trend is weakening the United States amid a rapidly accelerating AI race. Critics say the same activist ecosystem is now targeting America’s AI infrastructure and industrial power, in a development that experts warn could undermine the United States in its technological competition with China. "What all of these protests have in common — the protests against AI data centers or the environmental protests or the protest against Israel — is that anti-American trend within them." (Fox) (AC-This is 5GW in action, and it is very effective. Defense against these efforts is fragmented and not very effective.) 2. Bystander in serious condition after fatal shooting near White House checkpoint: Authorities have released few additional details about the early Saturday evening shooting. The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department said the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, started shooting toward a White House security checkpoint when Secret Service officers returned fire. Best, of Dundalk, Maryland, was later pronounced dead at a hospital. “Our thoughts are also with the innocent bystander who was wounded during this incident,” USSS Director Curran said. “The Secret Service is hopeful he will make a full recovery.”  It was the third shooting near the president in the past month.(AP)

3. Congressional report tallies 42 US aircraft lost or damaged in Operation Epic Fury: The Congressional Research Service, the nonpartisan research arm of the Library of Congress, works from open sources and has no access to classified damage assessments. The CRS authors note their count “may remain subject to revision due to multiple factors, which may include classification, ongoing combat activity, and attribution.”Drones, meanwhile, took the heaviest hit, accounting for 25 of the 42 losses. The list includes 24 MQ-9 Reapers and one MQ-4C Triton lost in a mishap reported April 14. (DefenseNews) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. The Fed may open direct settlement rails to crypto firms as banks warn of liquidity risk: The payment account the Fed proposed in December is structurally different from a full master account. A full master account lets a regulated depository institution hold balances at the Fed, earn interest on those reserves, access intraday credit, and borrow from the discount window during periods of liquidity stress. The proposed payment account removes all of that. Eligible institutions could settle through Fedwire, FedNow, and the National Settlement Service, hold limited reserve balances, and process payments across Fed infrastructure, but the Fed has been precise that the new account type wouldn't expand or otherwise change legal eligibility for its services. (CryptoSlate) 2. SEC Delaying Plan to Allow Crypto Versions of US Stocks: The SEC has pumped the brakes on its highly anticipated “innovation exemption” for tokenized stocks, pushing back the release of the framework as it weighs input from traditional stock exchanges and other market participants wary of the plan’s sweeping implications. (BitcoinMag) 3. New York Lawsuit Takes Aim At 3.79 Million Dormant Bitcoin: A New York lawsuit is seeking a court declaration over tens of thousands of long-dormant Bitcoin addresses that one outside analysis says collectively hold about 3.79 million BTC. The case, brought by “Noah Doe” and two Wyoming LLCs, attempts to frame inactive self-custodied crypto addresses as abandoned property under New York lost-and-found law. the addresses listed in the case hold 3,791,121.17697938 BTC and include addresses attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto, early miners, Casascius Coins, lost coins, hackers and unidentified entities. (Bitcoinist) (AC-The lawsuit capital of the world seeks a LOT of bitcoin.) -CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Satoshi-era bitcoin whale moves over $200 million in BTC to FalconX, Cumberland: A bitcoin OG transferred about 2,650 BTC to FalconX and Cumberland through multiple transactions on Sunday, according to Onchain Lens. The whale still holds $462 million worth of bitcoin, the onchain analysis provider said. (TheBlock) 2. Bitcoin options are coming to Nasdaq: The SEC has conditionally approved Nasdaq PHLX to list cash-settled, European-style Bitcoin index options under the ticker QBTC, which still await CFTC approval. QBTC options will trade on the same Nasdaq platform as popular technology stocks, allowing participants to execute hedging strategies and bitcoin volatility bets directly through their existing brokerage accounts without needing a separate futures or derivatives account. (CoinDesk) -Economic Indicators- 1. Week Ahead - May 25th: Headlines regarding the war in the Middle East and progress in restoring energy exports from the region will continue to set the pace for global markets. Strong earnings for the world's largest companies clashed with the inflationary impact of the war, having both stock markets and sovereign yields reach their local peaks recently. (TradingEconomics)

Many veterans leave military service searching for purpose, community, and a new mission. Bitcoin is that mission. It's about more than money. Bitcoin offers sovereignty, responsibility, and a way to help build a freer future for the world. This is why OPERATION BITCOIN exists. This Memorial Day weekend, miners everywhere can directly support veteran education by donating hashrate to our Telehash. Mine for the mission. Go to operationbitcoin.io to join the mission today.

@ElektronEnergy will be back for the next one. Would love to see more miners join us. @256FOUNDATION is doing the work miners should want done keeping the mining stack open, permissionless, and harder to capture. Supporting it should be obvious self-interest for anyone who mines Bitcoin.

@256FOUNDATION @ElektronEnergy @NiceHashMining @Schnitzel @FutureBit @megawatthq @tronsington @RiglyMining @Exergy_LLC @compass_mining Thank you!

Thank you for your contributions! 1. @ElektronEnergy 2. @NiceHashMining 3. @Schnitzel 4. @FutureBit 5. @megawatthq 6. @tronsington 7. @RiglyMining 8. primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs… 9. @Exergy_LLC 10. @compass_mining

TELEHASH #4 was our biggest yet. No solo block was found, but the community connected a peak of 2.49 EH/s to Hydrapool and contributed ~30.81 ZH of total work over the 6.5-hour event. Check out the top ten leaderboard! 256foundation.org/telehash

FEED ME HASH, PVT PYLE telehash.operationbitcoin.io

@mikegermano Behold all the glory of our retarded winning

The best bitcoin content to attract new bitcoiners will be about bitcoiners not bitcoin. Few understand that.

2. GRU Hijacked TP-Link Routers in 23 States to Steal Outlook Passwords: FBI Urges Immediate Action: Your home router spent the past two years quietly working for Russian military intelligence — and nothing on your screen would ever have told you so. Dubbed Operation Masquerade, the court-authorized action targeted GRU Military Unit 26165 — the Russian military intelligence division known to cybersecurity researchers as APT28, Fancy Bear, or Forest Blizzard. The group had been quietly hijacking TP-Link and MikroTik routers since at least August 2025, turning household devices into silent surveillance tools. The @FBI, NSA, and Internet Crime Complaint Center released a joint advisory with concrete steps for any American with a home router: 1.Change the default username and password on your router immediately. 2, Disable remote management interfaces accessible from the internet. 3. Update to the latest available firmware. 4. Replace end-of-life or end-of-support routers that no longer receive security updates. 5. Check the DNS resolver settings in your router's configuration panel to verify they have not been altered. (TechTimes) -Technology and Science- 1. U.S. Military Creates Task Force To Deploy AI Quickly, Safely, As Hacking Fears Grow: Joshua Rudd, who leads the National Security Agency and Cyber Command, stated that the task force will study, among other things, how to deploy AI into missions safely, including "high-side" systems that contain the nation's secrets. (IBtimes) -Bitcoin Community 1. 84% of BTC hashrate secured Bitcoin DeFi in Q1, but miners saw little fee upside: According to Rootstock's Q1 2026 merged-mining report, 84.01% of Bitcoin's total hashrate contributed to securing Rootstock during the quarter, giving Bitcoin DeFi a hashrate-backed security claim. It is a Bitcoin sidechain that uses merged mining, allowing Bitcoin mining pools to submit work to Rootstock while continuing to mine Bitcoin. (CryptoSlate) 2. Happy Bitcoin Pizza Day! What You Should Know About the 10,000 BTC Pizza Story: Today, on Friday, the 22nd, marks 16 years since Bitcoin entered everyday commerce through a pizza order. In 2010, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz from Florida purchased two @PapaJohn’s pizzas for 10,000 BTC. It might have been a small deal then, at around $41. Today, that much is valued at over $772 million. This anniversary now serves as a reminder to traders about how far digital money has come around the world since that momentous day. (CoinGape) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 28/100 (Down 1 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 950,504 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 22May2026 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Russia To Stage ICBMS on Arctic Seabed / Trump Negates SECWAR Order With 5K Troops Promise to Poland / Ebola Center in Congo Set on Fire / GOP Infighting Ends With Holiday Break / Fraud Investigation in MN Has New Charges Levied / New US Legislation Aimed At Bitcoin Reserve / Mark Cuban Dumps His Bitcoin / Stocks, Mortgage Rates Up / Digital Tax Evasion Grows / Russian GRU Hacked US Routers, FBI Says Act Now / New DOW Task Force For AI Use / Happy Bitcoin Pizza Day Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $77,963, 17.10 oz Gold/1 BTC, 5.59 BTC/Median US House 24hr Hi: $78,004 / Lo: $76,655 Volume: $26B (Down 7%) Mkt Cap: $1.54T (Even) Hashrate: .968 ZH/s Avg Fee Rate: 2.0 sats/byte (Even) ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Russia Developing Seabed Nuclear Missiles, German Investigation Finds: A German investigation published yesterday, citing NATO intelligence, reveals Russia is developing a secret program called Skif to place nuclear-capable missiles in sealed containers on the Arctic Ocean seabed, where they could remain hidden for months and be launched remotely using specialized vessels including the Zvezdochka transport ship and Sarov submarine. The Skif program appears designed to bypass international arms-control agreements and counter US missile-defense initiatives, representing a strategic shift in nuclear deterrence. (GroundNews) 2. Trump says he’s sending 5,000 troops to Poland, deepening confusion over US military deployments to Europe: The announcement comes one week after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stopped the scheduled deployment of a combat team expected to rotate through Poland, a decision his department said was based on frustration with European nations who have “not stepped up when America needed them.” It is unclear where the 5,000 troops that Trump mentioned will come from or how it will change US troop numbers in Europe. (CNN) 3. Ebola treatment center set on fire in Congo after residents clash with authorities over victim's body: Rwampara Hospital was attacked by local youths attempting to retrieve the body of a friend who had reportedly died of Ebola. The AP reported that people broke into the center and set fire to objects inside. A reporter also witnessed what appeared to be the body of at least one suspected Ebola victim being burned inside the facility. (Fox) -US Events- 1. Senate GOP delays vote on reconciliation bill amid opposition to DOJ fund, White House ballroom: Senate Republican leaders postponed a vote on a $70 billion package funding ICE and Border Patrol after objections to President Donald Trump's controversial "anti-weaponization" fund. Senate Majority Leader John Thune aimed to pass the package before the Memorial Day holiday, but lawmakers leaving Washington will cause Congress to miss President Donald Trump's June 1 deadline. (GroundNews) 2. Fraud in Minnesota: DOJ announces fraud charges against 15 people: Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald said a grand jury handed up an indictment charging 15 people for fraud that targeted over $90 million in taxpayer dollars. The fraud targeted seven Medicaid programs, including Minnesota's Housing Stabilization program, the autism program, Integrated Community Support, and the state's Individualized Home Supports program. Officials said one of the fraud suspects was on the run. Authorities said the suspect leaped from a fourth-story balcony as authorities attempted to make an arrest. (Fox9)

-Regulatory and Legal- 1. Proposed ARMA Bill Aims to Enshrine Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Into Law: Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK) introduced legislation on Thursday aimed at enshrining a strategic reserve for Bitcoin in federal law. The American Reserve Modernization Act, or ARMA, would direct the Treasury Department to create and maintain a reserve of the digital asset for a minimum of 20 years, while establishing a stockpile for other cryptocurrencies held by the government. (Decrypt) -CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Mark Cuban Sells Most of His Bitcoin, Calls It a Failed Hedge: “I always thought it was a better version of gold than gold,” Cuban said. “But gold just blew up and went to $5,000. Bitcoin dropped. Every time the dollar dropped, Bitcoin should’ve gone up,” he said. “It’s not the hedge I expected it to be.” (BitcoinMag) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Stocks Close Higher, Dow Hits New High: US stocks finished higher on Thursday after a volatile trading session, as renewed hopes for a potential US-Iran agreement to end the conflict pushed oil prices lower for a third consecutive day. The S&P 500 gained 0.2%, the Nasdaq edged up 0.1%, and the Dow Jones rose 276 points to close at a fresh record high. (TradingEconomics) 2. US Mortgage Rates Rise to 9-Month High: The average rate on a 30-year fixed-mortgage rose by 15bps from the previous week to 6.51% as of May 21st, the highest in nine months. (TradingEconomics) -Security Concerns- 1. Tax Evasion Goes Digital: Criminals Shift To Novel Crypto Instruments: Italy’s Economic and Financial Police Unit in Foggia uncovered a scheme in which a suspect allegedly used the Bitcoin Ordinals protocol and the BRC-20 token standard to generate and conceal roughly 1 million euros, or about $1.1 million, in undeclared capital gains. The suspect created tokens using those tools, listed them on marketplaces, sold them for far more than they originally cost, and funneled the profits back into a primary Bitcoin wallet. A study released in March found that only 32% to 56% of US crypto owners report their gains to tax authorities. (Bitcoinist)

you can just post garden pics for your friends & live a peaceful life

MFTV #3: OPEN SOURCE MINING MATTERS | with @skot9000 of @256FOUNDATION YouTube: youtu.be/kVvskW43moI Bitcoin is, critically, an open-source project—with most of the development community building on Bitcoin in an open-source way. If Bitcoin's codebase were not open-source, it would no longer be permissionless, trustless, or censorship resistant. Its position as "cypherpunk" money is firmly dependent on that fact that anyone can find, review and use its code. The mining industry, however, typically operates with a different attitude. A small handful of companies make all Bitcoin miners—including chips, firmware, hardware, etc—with all information about how these machines work behind a heavily guarded wall. In this episode of MFTV, @skot9000 creator of the first fully open-source ASIC (BitAxe) and boardmember of the @256FOUNDATION sits down with @isabelfoxenduke to share how the open-source mining revolution is growing—and why the mining industry is poised for "absolutely vertical growth" as its tech stack opens up for the world to build on.

@BitcoinConner Where'd he learn bitcoin? and does he want to level up more from other Devil Dogs? @RepGolden

Another very important thing to flag here: ARMA is being Co-lead by Rep. Golden (D-ME), a member of the Armed Services Committee. We can now officially say that the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is bipartisan with leaders on both sides of the aisle recognizing bitcoin's importance. Thank you for your leadership @RepGolden!

Sparrow v2.5.0 released with: Silent Payments (SP) wallets SP-capable Frigate public server @2140_dev bitview.space fee rates source sparrowwallet.com/download

We ran Hydrapool yesterday for @256FOUNDATION 's telehash. Internally hydrapool uses @p2poolv2 's stratum and accounting libraries. Hydrapool is rock solid! Check out the performance on an AMD EPYC 9R45 aws ec2 instance. P2Poolv2 release coming soon too.

-Security Concerns- 1. A Bipartisan Amendment Would End Police License Plate Tracking Nationwide: One line tucked into a federal highway bill would strip funds from cities and states unless they kill their automated plate tracking programs—effectively banning the tech for all but toll collection. The amendment runs a single sentence: “A recipient of assistance under Title 23, United States Code, may not use automated license plate readers for any purpose other than tolling.” New York University School of Law’s Brennan Center for Justice has documented the integration of ALPR feeds into police data-fusion systems that combine plate data with surveillance and social media monitoring. (Wired) (AC-Flock ALPR cameras are everywhere now, and this amendment would have a major impact on state, local and federal agencies mass surveillance efforts.) -Technology and Science- 1. Elon Musk’s SpaceX unveils filing for blockbuster IPO: On Wednesday, SpaceX filed S-1 IPO paperwork revealing a $4.9 billion loss on $18.7 billion in 2025 revenue, with plans for a Nasdaq listing under ticker "SPCX" and a June roadshow. While Starlink currently drives most of SpaceX's revenue, the company's future growth hinges on building space data centers to train powerful artificial intelligence models. SpaceX targets a potential $1.75 trillion valuation, which would eclipse Saudi Aramco's $1.7 trillion record from 2019. (GroundNews) 2. U.S. to Award Quantum Computing Firms $2 Billion and Take Equity Stakes: Funding originates from the 2022 Chips and Science Act and allocations include $1 billion to IBM and $375 million to GlobalFoundries. The remaining firms, including D-Wave Quantum, ⁠Rigetti Computing, and Infleqtion are expected to receive $100 million ​each, while startup Diraq may receive $38 million. (GroundNews) -Bitcoin Community 1. Hunter Biden Now Accepts Bitcoin for Artwork on His Official Website: The homepage of Hunter Biden’s official website features his signature bright, large-scale floral paintings, while the footer now includes a simple but striking notice: “BITCOIN ACCEPTED,” listed alongside links to the site’s privacy policy, terms of use and “Verisart Authentication.” (BitcoinMag) (AC-"Bitcoin is for everyone", I guess.) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 29/100 (Up 4 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 950,369 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 21May2026 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Urkaine Drone Strategy Pays Off / Putin, XI Sign 'Mult-Polar World' Declaration / UN Pushes Climate Justice Mandate / US Indicts Raul Castro For 30-Year Old Murder / Housing Bill Advances in House / RFK Jr. Continues to Clean House / US Lawmakers Look to IRS For Crypto Tax Exemptions / New Minnesota Law Allows Banks to Custody Bitcoin / Housing Starts Down, Jobless Claims Even, Stocks Bounce Up / New Bill Would End ALPR (Flock) Collection Except for Tolls / SpaceX to IPO Bigly / USG Takes Positions in Quantum Companies / Hunter Biden Takes Bitcoin for his Artwork Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $77,871, 17.11 oz Gold/1 BTC, 5.59 BTC/Median US House 24hr Hi: $78,100 / Lo: $76,829 Volume: $28B (Up 11%) Mkt Cap: $1.54T (Even) Hashrate: .976 ZH/s Avg Fee Rate: 2.0 sats/byte (Up 1%) ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Ukrainian mid-range strikes deal double blow to Russia's war effort: Ukrainian officials say more resources have in recent months been poured into "middle strikes", typically ranging between 30 km (19 miles) and 180 km behind front lines. This has enabled Ukraine to strike Russian radars, short- and medium-range air defences, communications infrastructure, logistics and large military vehicles at "operational depth", the sources said.Mid-range attacks may not turn the tide against Russia but represent a challenge to which Russian forces must adapt. (Reuters) 2. Putin and Xi Sign ‘Multipolar World’ Declaration in Beijing: President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping signed a joint declaration on Wednesday focused on building a “multipolar world,” sending a defiant signal to the U.S.. “Russia and China are committed to an independent and sovereign foreign policy, are working together in close strategic cooperation and playing an important stabilizing role on the global stage,” Putin said. (MoscowTimes) 3. UN backs historic climate crisis ruling, despite US attempts to stop resolution: The UN has voted 141-8 to adopt a resolution backing a world court opinion that countries have a legal obligation to address climate change, with the US – which is the world’s biggest historical emitter – among the small group opposing it. While not legally binding, the court’s advisory opinion is already being used in climate litigation around the world and judges are starting to reference it in their climate-related rulings. (TheGuardian) 4. US Justice Department Unseals Indictment Against Raúl Castro: The DOJ unsealed a superseding indictment charging 94-year-old former Cuban President Raúl Castro and five co-defendants with conspiracy to kill US nationals, destruction of aircraft, and murder related to the 1996 shoot-down of two unarmed Brothers to the Rescue civilian planes over international waters, killing four. (DOJ) -US Events- 1. Trump-backed housing bill clears House after GOP defies Senate pressure campaign: Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly 396-13 to send the bipartisan measure aimed at boosting housing supply and homeownership to the Senate, where it will need final sign-off before being signed into law by the president. The package preserved a ban on large institutional investors from buying new single-family homes. Thirteen conservative lawmakers voted against the bipartisan housing measure over concerns about language temporarily banning CBDCs, which they argue would open the door to unchecked financial surveillance. (Fox) (AC-Housing Bill with a clause on CDBCs?)

2. RFK Jr fires leaders of group that sets guidelines for preventive healthcare: The Trump administration has fired the two leaders of an influential health group that determines when insurance must provide free preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies, for millions of Americans. Kennedy’s letters do not make clear why he ousted Drs John Wong and Esa Davis from the panel. (TheGuardian) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. US lawmakers introduce bill directing IRS to review crypto tax exemptions: The bill, dubbed the Digital Asset Protection, Accountability, Regulation, Innovation, Taxation and Yields Act, or PARITY Act, was introduced in the House on Tuesday after lawmakers released a discussion draft in March. The latest version of the PARITY Act does not create an exemption for small crypto transactions. Instead, it calls for the Treasury, which oversees the IRS, to study a de minimis tax exemption and provide interim guidance within 180 days on what relief it can provide under its existing authority. The bill kept a section of the draft that was described as treating “digital dollars like actual cash for tax purposes,” where regulated payment stablecoins would have no recognized gains or losses. (CoinTelegraph) -CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Minnesota Law Opens Crypto Custody to Banks, Credit Unions — One Credit Union Already Has a Head Start: Governor Tim Walz signed HF 3709 into law. The legislation takes effect August 1, 2026. The law permits state-chartered banks and credit unions to hold virtual currency and the cryptographic keys that control it on behalf of customers and members. Minnesota joins New York, Wyoming, and Virginia, which have established similar frameworks. (BitcoinMag) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Housing Starts Fall Less than Expected: US housing starts were down 2.8% month-on-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.465 million in April 2026, compared to an upwardly revised 1.507 million in March which was the highest level since December 2024 and above forecasts of 1.41 million. (TradingEconomics) 2. US Initial Jobless Claims Inch Down: The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US fell by 3,000 to 209,000 on the second week of May, aligned with market expectations of 210,000. In the meantime, continuing jobless claims, which are a proxy for outstanding unemployment, rose by 6,000 to 1,782,000, slightly under the expectations of 1,790,000. (TradingEconomics) 3. US Stocks Hold Rebound: US stocks closed higher on Wednesday with support from lower energy prices ahead of Nvidia's earnings results, due to update the state of the AI economy that has supported the stock market this year. The S&P 500 added 1% while the Dow and Nasdaq 100 gained 1.2%. (TradingEconomics)