The resurgence of mpox, also known as monkeypox, has raised concerns among global health experts about the effectiveness of current surveillance systems. Dimie Ogoina, a Nigerian professor and chair of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) emergency committee of independent experts on mpox, has emphasized that the lack of adequate surveillance is critically hindering efforts to monitor and manage the spread of the disease.

In a notable move for Bitcoin advocacy, a viral tweet from the Orange Pill App has catalysed a campaign to educate members of the U.S. Congress about Bitcoin. The initiative involved distributing copies of The Bitcoin Standard, a prominent book on Bitcoin by author Saifedean Ammous, to congressional offices. The project aimed to increase awareness of Bitcoin’s potential impact and educate lawmakers about the digital currency.

In a startling revelation, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently admitted to a U.S. Congressional Committee that his social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, have been actively pressured by government entities to censor content during crucial moments in recent history. This admission marks a significant shift in the ongoing debate surrounding the intersection of free speech, government influence, and the role of big tech companies in moderating online discourse.

Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has recently come under scrutiny for its handling of Bitcoin withdrawal fees. A detailed exploration by Cypherpunk Jameson Lopp highlights questionable fee estimation practices, suggesting that users might be paying significantly more than necessary when withdrawing their funds.

In a recent commentary, acclaimed Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith voiced his criticism of the ongoing practice of censoring classic children's books to cater to modern sensitivities. McCall Smith, best known for his No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, argued that children prefer the unedited versions of beloved classics by authors such as Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton, suggesting that young readers are capable of recognizing and protesting against what they perceive as a “sanitised world view.”

Amethyst, a popular Nostr client, has launched its latest update, v0.90.0, bringing enhancements to its feature set and performance. This new version introduces support for NIP-35 Torrent files, optimizes memory usage, and revamps its caching mechanisms to improve how users interact with Nostr's decentralized communication platform. The update also includes several bug fixes and interface improvements, making Amethyst more efficient and user-friendly.

As governments worldwide intensify their scrutiny of encrypted messaging services, the importance of decentralized protocols has never been more apparent. The recent arrest of Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov, and legislative moves to undermine end-to-end encryption reveal the vulnerabilities inherent in centralized platforms. Unlike centralized services, decentralized protocols like Nostr offer a more robust defense against surveillance and censorship, ensuring privacy remains intact. In this context, decentralization isn't just a technological choice—it's a critical strategy in the ongoing fight for privacy and freedom of expression.

Hodl Hodl bring you Day 2 of the most OG Bitcoin conference in the world, full of high-quality Bitcoin-only content delivered by the top industry players. We discuss the most important, popular, and controversial topics in Bitcoin.

The Bitcoin ecosystem continues to evolve, and so does the SeedSigner project with the launch of its latest update, SeedSigner v0.8.0, aptly named the 'Low Time Preference' release. Staying true to its ethos of careful and deliberate development, this release focuses on enhancing the functionality and user experience of SeedSigner, the DIY Bitcoin signing device that emphasizes security through air-gapped and stateless operation.

Hodl Hodl bring you Day 1 of the most OG Bitcoin conference in the world, full of high-quality Bitcoin-only content delivered by the top industry players. We discuss the most important, popular, and controversial topics in Bitcoin.

The UK government has recently come under fire from prominent academics for suspending the implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act. This legislation was designed to safeguard free speech in universities, but its suspension has sparked a heated debate over concerns about cancel culture, academic freedom, and the potential harm caused by unrestricted speech. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced the suspension, citing the act’s inadequacies and potential risks to students, which has led to a backlash from academics advocating for robust protections of free speech in academic settings.

Nostriga, an event centered around Nostr and decentralized networking, is now in its second day! This conference gathers developers, enthusiasts, and thought leaders to discuss the latest developments, trends, and challenges related to Nostr—a protocol aimed at creating open, censorship-resistant social media networks.

Germany, often seen as the economic powerhouse of Europe, is facing a growing challenge that could reshape its future and that of the European Union. The country’s fluctuating immigration policies, coupled with the increasing emigration of highly skilled German citizens, are exerting significant pressure on its economy. The issue has raised alarms among experts and policymakers, who warn that the current trajectory may turn Germany into what some are calling a potential "poor house" of Europe in the decades to come.

Bitcoin's hashrate has experienced a significant surge, causing a notable acceleration in the average block production interval. Halfway through the current difficulty epoch, the hashrate increase has accelerated the average block production interval to approximately 8 minutes and 56 seconds, which is 11.9% faster than the intended 10-minute-per-block interval.

CB Payments Limited (CBPL), a British unit of Coinbase, has been fined £3.5 million ($4.5 million) for failing to comply with regulatory requirements designed to enhance its defences against financial crime. This marks the first sanction of its kind within the UK's crypto assets sector.

In a recent episode of TFTC, Saifedean Ammous offers a critical examination of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing property rights, international law, and the impact of modern Zionism. Ammous provides a comprehensive analysis, urging policymakers and the international community to re-evaluate their approaches to achieve a just resolution.

A recent report authored by Troy Cross and Andrew Perkins for The Nakamoto Project explores the landscape of Bitcoin ownership among American adults. The survey, which included 3,538 participants, provides insightful findings regarding the demographics, political affiliations, moral values, and predictors of Bitcoin ownership in the United States.

BTCPay Server, in partnership with Hodl Hodl, has announced their upcoming event "BTCPayDay Riga" scheduled for August 26th. The event will take place following the Baltic Honeybadger 2024 conference during Riga Bitcoin Week in Latvia.

Bitcoin proponent Carl B. Menger published an article titled "When Money Dies," discussing the potential consequences of hyperinflation and the collapse of fiat currencies. The piece, released as part of a series at Bitcoin block height 848600, draws parallels between historical cases of hyperinflation and current economic conditions.

Financial technology company Strike has announced the expansion of its bitcoin and Lightning Network-based services to the United Kingdom. This move marks a significant step in the company's global expansion, bringing its total reach to 100 countries and territories worldwide.