Zeros

When the Bots Ban Bitcoin and the Banks Go Rogue: Two Stories the Digital Currency World Can't Ignore The world of digital assets rarely sits still, and this week delivered two stories that, on the surface, couldn't look more different — one involves a tech developer silencing his own community, the other involves a nation quietly rebuilding its financial underground . Taken together, they paint a revealing picture of the pressures bearing down on decentralized finance from both above and below. OpenClaw Goes Silent on Digital Assets If you haven't heard of OpenClaw , here's the short version: it's a popular AI agent framework that went viral earlier this year , created by developer Peter Steinberger. After Steinberger joined OpenAI , the project transitioned to an independent open-source foundation — but not before it got dragged into the chaos that follows anything digital-asset-adjacent these days. In the brief window between releasing old social m...

The Significance of a Rules-Based System for Bitcoin — and the Rationale Behind Wall Street's Recent Endorsement Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon made headlines this week at the World Liberty Forum in Mar-a-Lago , Florida , when he publicly called for a codified, rules-based framework for how digital assets operate in the United States. He also confirmed, for the first time, that he personally holds a small amount of Bitcoin — describing it as, "very little, but some." For Bitcoin enthusiasts and digital currency collectors who have watched institutional attitudes shift over the past few years, Solomon's remarks are worth paying attention to. Not because Wall Street suddenly controls the direction of Bitcoin , but because what happens in Washington and in the boardrooms of major banks directly shapes the environment in which all of us hold and trade digital assets. What Solomon Actually Said Speaking at the forum, Solomon was direct: "I believe tha...

The Dream That Won't Come True: Bitcoin Dropping to Zero Let's be honest with each other for a moment. Somewhere in the back of every savvy digital currency enthusiast's mind lives a little fantasy. Not the moon-boy dream of Bitcoin hitting a million dollars. No, something far more delicious: the idea that Bitcoin could one day crater all the way down to absolute zero . Worth nothing. A digital ghost. The greatest financial cautionary tale ever told. And oh, what a day that would be. Picture it. You refresh your portfolio tracker, and instead of the usual stomach-lurching red percentages, you see it: $0.00. The forums erupt. The podcasters go silent. Somewhere, a man in a laser-eye profile picture quietly changes his avatar back to a family photo. The digital asset that was going to replace the global financial system is now worth precisely as much as a broken promise. For those of us who have watched blockchain growth with a mixture of fascination and weary ...

PayPal vs. Coinbase: The Convergence You Didn't See Coming Wait, there's gambling on Coinbase now? If that headline made you do a double-take, you're not alone. But before we dive into what that means, let's talk about an even stranger development: Kalshi , the prediction market platform, now accepts direct payments from Venmo . Yes, that Venmo. The app you use to split brunch bills. And here's where things get interesting: Venmo is owned by PayPal , which has its own stablecoin (PYUSD) and cryptocurrency wallet functionality built right into both apps. Suddenly, the lines between traditional fintech and digital asset platforms aren't just blurring— they're practically invisible. The Coinbase Gambling Surprise Coinbase's recent move into prediction markets (which, let's be honest, is essentially gambling with a fancy name) caught many users off guard. The platform has always positioned itself as the accessible, regulated on-ramp to dig...

Bitcoin ETFs: A Simple and Clear Guide for All Digital Asset Lovers Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your understanding, this guide is here to make things easier and more approachable for you.  If you've been following the digital currency space, you've likely heard buzz about Bitcoin ETFs . Let's break down what they are and why they matter. What Are Bitcoin ETFs? A Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is a financial product that tracks Bitcoin's price without requiring you to own the digital currency directly. Think of it like owning shares in a company that holds Bitcoin on your behalf. When Bitcoin's price rises or falls, so does the value of your ETF shares. Unlike purchasing Bitcoin through an exchange and managing a wallet, buying a Bitcoin ETF works just like buying stock in Apple or Tesla . You're investing in Bitcoin's price movements through traditional financial markets. Who Offers Bitcoin ETFs? In January 2024...

There's a Nostalgic-Sounding Genre of Bitcoin Mining Apps For a modest buy-in— sometimes as low as seven dollars —it promises access to industrial-scale mining, passive income, and a future balance that looks suspiciously like a millionaire’s salary. Anyone who has been around digital assets long enough knows how this story usually ends. And yet, the story keeps being told because, narrowly and uncomfortably, it is both happening and not happening at the same time . On paper, the math often checks out. These apps reference pooled hash power, cloud infrastructure, and economies of scale . The language mirrors early whitepapers that described a system where participation was open, rewards were proportional, and trust was minimized by code rather than gatekeepers. Mining, as originally envisioned, was not meant to be an elite activity . It was supposed to reward early participation, patience, and belief in the network more than raw capital. That vision is why these apps co...

Current Bitcoin Price Information Essential For Every Investor Understanding the Bitcoin price has never been more critical for investors navigating today's volatile market landscape. As of this writing, the Bitcoin price stands at approximately $78,039 , on January 31, 2026, representing a significant pullback from recent highs and creating what many see as a pivotal moment for digital currency markets. The Bitcoin price movement over the past several months tells a compelling story about the maturation of digital assets as an investment class. When evaluating the Bitcoin price in historical context, we're witnessing the kind of volatility that has defined this asset since its inception —but with far greater stakes given its mainstream adoption. For investors who understand the fundamental principle of buying low and selling high , the current Bitcoin price presents a notable inflection point. The Bitcoin price has experienced substantial downward pressure, droppi...

The Quantum Reckoning : Why Bitcoin's Encryption Crisis Demands Regulatory Evolution The recent decision by Jefferies ' Global Head of Equity Strategy Christopher Wood to remove Bitcoin from recommended portfolios signals more than investment caution —it represents a fundamental recognition that the quantum computing threat necessitates reclassifying how we structurally treat digital assets within financial frameworks. The discourse surrounding quantum computing's capacity to compromise SHA-256 hashing has fixated on cryptographic solutions, obscuring a more profound systemic vulnerability. When quantum computers achieve the computational threshold to break Bitcoin's encryption, the ramifications extend beyond protocol upgrades . The asset class itself will require reconceptualization within the regulatory architecture, and the CLARITY Act's framework for treating digital assets analogously to securities , rather than as encrypted commodities, becom...

Bitcoin Kiosks: Convenience or Crime Scene? You've probably walked past one in a convenience store or gas station— a hulking machine promising instant access to Bitcoin , often plastered with logos and flashing screens. Bitcoin kiosks , also known as cryptocurrency ATMs , have proliferated across neighborhoods worldwide. But if you're like most digital currency enthusiasts who manage assets through exchanges and wallets, you've probably wondered: who actually uses these things? The answer, unfortunately, includes many people who shouldn't. Federal authorities report that cryptocurrency kiosks facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars in fraud losses in recent years. The FBI has issued multiple warnings about scammers directing victims to these machines, where irreversible transactions and minimal identity verification create perfect conditions for theft . Romance scammers, fake government officials, and tech support fraudsters all share a common instruct...

Trust Wallet Chrome Extension Breach : $7 Million Stolen Trust Wallet users experienced a significant security incident on December 24, 2025, when attackers compromised version 2.68 of the Chrome browser extension . Approximately $7 million in digital assets were stolen from hundreds of wallets. This was a genuine theft, not a situation involving unpaid transaction fees. The breach occurred through a supply chain attack. Attackers obtained a leaked Chrome Web Store API key , which allowed them to publish a malicious version of the extension through official channels. The compromised update passed Google's review process and was distributed to users on December 24 at 12:32 p.m. UTC. The malicious code was concealed within the extension's JavaScript files, specifically disguised as routine analytics functionality. When users imported their recovery seed phrases into the affected extension, the code captured this sensitive information and transmitted it to attacker-c...

The SEC Just Said the Quiet Part Out Loud (And We're All Panicking) Okay, so the SEC dropped their latest recommendations and guidance, and everyone's losing their minds. I'm losing my mind. You're probably losing your mind. And honestly? We should be . Here's the thing nobody wants to admit out loud : the entire promise of Bitcoin—the anonymity, the sovereignty, the be your own bank mantra we've been chanting since 2009—it's basically over. Done. Kaput . And we did it to ourselves. Because of the logistical nightmare that's been lurking in the background this whole time: what happens when you die? What happens when you get hit by a bus tomorrow and your private keys are locked in your brain or scribbled on a piece of paper in a safety deposit box nobody knows about? Your digital assets just… vanish . Poof. Gone forever. Your spouse can't access them. Your kids can't inherit them. The blockchain doesn't care about your last wil...

SEC Issues Custody Guidance for Digital Currency Investors The Securities and Exchange Commission has released an investor bulletin addressing custody arrangements for digital currencies. The document was issued on December 12 by the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy . The bulletin covers fundamental concepts related to wallet management and the differences between self-custody and third-party custodial arrangements. The guidance explains the operational differences between hot wallets and cold wallets . Hot wallets maintain an active internet connection and offer immediate access to assets. Cold wallets remain offline and provide enhanced security against remote attacks. The SEC noted that both approaches carry distinct risk profiles that investors must evaluate. The bulletin addresses the importance of private key security . Private keys function as the credential required to access and transfer digital assets. The SEC stated that loss of private keys typically...

Getting Started with Bitcoin's Lightning Network : A Practical Walkthrough If you're interested in Bitcoin — not generic "crypto," but actual Bitcoin —then understanding the Lightning Network is essential. This layer-2 solution enables instant, low-fee transactions using Bitcoin's smallest unit: satoshis . Let me walk you through how to get started with Lightning Network technology using real-world tools. Understanding Bitcoin Satoshis Before we dive into Lightning, let's clarify terminology. A satoshi (sat) is the smallest unit of Bitcoin , representing 0.00000001 BTC. When we talk about Lightning Network transactions, we're usually dealing in satoshis rather than whole Bitcoin. This matters because Lightning excels at micro-transactions— sending small amounts of Bitcoin instantly and cheaply . This is pure Bitcoin technology, not altcoins or tokens . The Lightning Network uses actual Bitcoin, just moving it through payment cha...

A Hidden Gem of Digital Treasures : Why MintMe.com Deserves Your Attention This Season As the leaves turn golden and pumpkin spice lattes make their triumphant return, there's another kind of minting happening in the digital assets world that's worth your attention. While most people are familiar with Bitcoin and Ethereum , there's a lesser-known blockchain platform called MintMe.com that's quietly revolutionizing how we think about digital asset creation – and it might just be the sustainable alternative cryptocurrency enthusiasts have been searching for. What Makes MintMe Different? Here's what caught my eye about MintMe: for just $50 , literally anyone can create their own digital currency. No coding experience required, no complex smart contracts to navigate – just pure, accessible blockchain innovation . The platform lives up to its name with honest-to-goodness minting capabilities, though they're transparent about the fact th...