https://blossom.primal.net/edb49e538b99080a4eb7adfaf7d6a4ecbc96336b29084029222e6e6060f50bd9.png ⁨📷⁩ ⁨BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 937,537 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 20Feb2026 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Trump Gives Iran Timetable / Japanese PM Warns Over China / S. Korean Ex-President Jailed for Life / Trump Orders Release of All UFO Files / SCOTUS To Rule on Tariff Powers / VA Backpeddles on Dumb Ruling / Trump EO on Glyphosate Riles Base, RFK Backs Trump / BTC ETFs Continue to Bleed / Metaplanet Say We Will Not Sell / Yields Down, Stocks Down / S. Korean Hacker Returns $21M in Bitcoin / Malaysia Arrests 12 Police Officers Over Crypto Extortion / Fed Economists Like Prediction Markets / Bitcoin is Dead, Again, Says Google Searches / Bitcoin Lightning Network Continues to Grow Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,144, 13.42 oz Gold, 6.39 BTC/Median US House 24hr Hi: $68,269 / Lo: $65,637 Volume: $35B (Up 5%) Mkt Cap: $1.35T (Up 1%) HashRate: 1.0 ZH/s Avg Fee Rate: 2.0 sats/vBtye (Up 1 sat) ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Trump Issues Warning to Iran Amid Nuclear Negotiations: US President Donald Trump warned that the world has 10 days to determine if a deal is reached with Iran over its nuclear program, stating that "bad things" could happen otherwise. The US is increasing its military presence in the Middle East, with a second aircraft carrier approaching the region and discussions of potential strikes as early as Saturday. Trump has reviewed attack options with advisers, while Iran conducted military drills with Russia in the Strait of Hormuz. (BBC) 2. Japan PM Addresses China Relations: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned of China's growing "coercion" in the East and South China Seas during her policy speech to parliament yesterday. She pledged to overhaul Japan's defense strategy, including easing military export rules to cover non-lethal equipment and establishing a national intelligence council to consolidate information across agencies. Takaichi also announced plans for a foreign investment screening mechanism and efforts to strengthen supply chains in response to perceived threats from China. (Reuters) (AC-PM Takaichi is showing some real backbone in the face of Chinese cooercion. It'll be a key test for the US.) 3. South Korea's ex-president jailed for life over martial law attempt: Yoon attempted to subvert the constitution by deploying military troops to seal off the National Assembly and ordering the arrest of politicians on 3 December 2024, a Seoul court ruled. His actions fundamentally damaged South Korea's democracy and deserves a harsh punishment, presiding judge Ji Gwi-yeon told the court. (BBC) -US Events- 1. Trump Directs Release of UFO and Alien Files: President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he is directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other agencies to identify and release government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs). This directive follows Trump's criticism of former President Barack Obama's podcast comments affirming the existence of aliens, which he claimed involved sharing classified information. (NBC) 2. Trump's tariffs near their fate before the Supreme Court: Small businesses sued to block Trump's tariffs last spring. Analysts had initially expected a swift ruling from the highest court, but the uncertainty has dragged on for longer than expected. If the Supreme Court rejects the legality of part or all of the tariffs, it could kick off a chaotic process of refunds to companies that have paid the overturned tariffs. (Axios) 3. VA backs off rule that would have cut benefits amid outrage: The rule said a veteran’s disability level would be based on how well they function while on medication for an injury or illness and not simply having the impairment itself. But the VA said Thursday it will halt enforcement of the rule after veterans quickly and loudly opposed it. (CNN) (AC-Kudos to the SECVA on his quick reaction to the ruling and transparency, also to the veteran community for speaking out so powerfully.) 4. Kennedy defends Trump glyphosate order; MAHA erupts as midterms approach: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended President Donald Trump’s executive order spurring the domestic production of the weed killer glyphosate, as his MAHA movement reels from the president’s embrace of the chemical they despise. Trump on Wednesday night signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to compel the domestic production of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides. Now, the executive order threatens to unravel that coalition ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that could loosen the president’s grip on Washington. (CNBC) (AC-This is a situation where the admin should backpedal, just like the VA report above. This key issue has serious potential to unravel MAHA and MAGA unity quickly, and an EO implies National Security inputs, which may or may not be true in the first place. RFK is simply following orders publicly, but his history is anti-glyphosate.) -Regulatory and Legal- NSTR -CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Bitcoin ETFs Lose Another $166M as Five-Week Withdrawals Near $4B: Bitcoin ETF outflows near $4 billion over the past five weeks, as experts debate whether the streak signals a reset or structural weakness. (Decrypt) 2. ‘We will never sell’: Metaplanet stands firm as Bitcoin losses top $1.2B: Simon Gerovich, the CEO of Japan-based Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet, has acknowledged that the ongoing crypto rout has been painful. “Our strategy remains unchanged. We exist to accumulate Bitcoin and grow Bitcoin per share, which we increased by over 500% in 2025. We will never sell our Bitcoin.” he said. (AMbCrypto) -Economic Indicators- 1. US 10-Year Yield Slips on Geopolitical Risks: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note eased to around 4.07% on Friday, paring gains from earlier in the week as escalating tensions between the US and Iran fueled safe-haven demand for Treasuries. (TradingEconomics) 2. Wall Street Slips on Hawkish Fed Signals: The S&P 500 closed down 0.3%, the Nasdaq fell 0.4%, and the Dow lost 0.6% as investors pared risk after the FOMC minutes signaled that disinflation may take longer and that higher rates could be needed. (TradingEconomics) -Security Concerns- 1. Hacker returns $21 million in stolen bitcoin to South Korean authorities: Last December, the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office discovered that they had lost the bitcoin seized from a raid on a gambling platform. On Tuesday, the hacker returned 320.8 BTC to the wallet held by authorities, local news outlet Digital Asset reported. The hacker’s identity remains unknown. (TheBlock) 2. Malaysian authorities arrest 12 police officers over alleged crypto extortion: Malaysian authorities have arrested 12 police officers accused of extorting about 200,000 ringgit ($51,000 | 0.77 BTC) in cryptocurrency from a group of Chinese nationals during a midnight raid on a house near Kuala Lumpur, according to local officials. (TheBlock) (AC-The traceability of crypto and Bitcoin are a feature, sometimes.) -Technology and Science- 1. Fed Economists Praise Prediction Markets as States Step Up Enforcement: Federal researchers are embracing prediction markets as policy-relevant tools just as state regulators move to curtail them. The researchers say macro-focused prediction markets can provide policymakers with a real-time, market-based gauge of inflation and interest-rate expectations. The authors found that the models closely match, and even exceed, forecasts from traditional benchmarks while providing continuously updated probability distributions around key data releases and policy meetings. (Decrypt) (AC-It's well known in intelligence circles that crowd-based forecasting is a very useful tool, though not perfect.) -Bitcoin Community- 1. 'Bitcoin Going to Zero' Google Searches Rise With Crypto Sentiment in the Dumps: Data from Google Trends shows that worldwide queries for “Bitcoin going to zero” and “Is Bitcoin dead?” have spiked to their highest levels since 2022, as a viral X post pointed out this week. (Decrypt) (AC-Bitcoin is dead, again. BTW, Peter Schiff is calling for $20K Bitcoin, which may have some impact on these searches.) 2. Bitcoin’s Lightning Network Surpasses $1 Billion in Monthly Volume As Adoption Grows: Bitcoin’s Lightning Network topped $1.17 billion in November monthly volume across 5.22 million transactions, according to River Financial, which says the milestone reflects growing adoption despite flat price action. (BitcoinMag) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 7/100 (Down 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