RABBIT HOLE RECAP #406: THE LAYOFFS CONTINUE

22 snips

Apr 23, 2026

They dig into Iran's prolonged internet blackout and why decentralized connectivity matters. They debate oracle failures in prediction markets and technical mitigations. They critique Palantir's manifesto and its USDA tie-up. They cover Signal's iOS notification patch and national security talk linking Bitcoin to defense. They explain Tether's coordinated freeze and scams demanding crypto in the Strait of Hormuz.

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INSIGHT

Military Views Bitcoin As Strategic Computer Science Tool

The U.S. Navy/military running Bitcoin nodes frames Bitcoin as strategic infrastructure and a 'computer science tool' with potential national security applications.
Admirals pitched proof-of-work as imposing external cost useful for power projection and cybersecurity research, though technical claims are debated.

INSIGHT

Proof Of Work Doesn't Protect Generic Infrastructure

Bitcoin's proof-of-work secures the ledger and doesn't directly defend unrelated critical computer systems; claims otherwise stretch the mechanism's purpose.
Framing Bitcoin as military infrastructure risks regulatory or control measures that could harm individual sovereignty.

INSIGHT

Tether Freeze Highlights Stablecoin Custodial Risk

Tether froze over $344M in USDT on Tron at OFAC request, underscoring the systemic custodial risk of centralised stablecoins.
The hosts warn that stablecoins can function like CBDCs: freezeable private-digital currencies controlled by third parties.

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Iran Internet Blackout Reaches 55th Day - NetBlockshttps://x.com/netblocks/status/2047217589156245931

Palantir Shares 'The Technological Republic' Manifestohttps://x.com/palantirtech/status/2045574398573453312

Palantir Partners with USDA for American Farmershttps://x.com/palantirtech/status/2046907163038073051

Signal Announces Apple iOS Patch for Notification Bughttps://x.com/signalapp/status/2047070518776356996

US Admiral: Bitcoin Has “Incredible Potential” for National Securityhttps://primal.net/e/nevent1qqsdur5mraa6e4y9ruw0yekq4r3d84danlyrq0l92lvgm63v3ylw72gh243yg

Tether Supports Freeze of More Than $344 Million in USD₮ in Coordination with OFAC and U.S. Law Enforcement https://tether.io/news/tether-supports-freeze-of-more-than-344-million-in-usdt-in-coordination-with-ofac-and-u-s-law-enforcement/

Scammers Offer Crypto 'Safe Passage' in Strait of Hormuz - Degenerate Newshttps://x.com/degeneratenews/status/2046559584307839410

Prediction: UBI Evolves to Social Credit UCI - @himgajriahttps://x.com/himgajria/status/2032255575539789829

Open Hardware for Open Money - OpenSats Bloghttps://opensats.org/blog/open-hardware-for-open-money

Russia | VPN and Digital Asset Crackdown Deepens Digital and Financial Control

The Russian regime is once again escalating control over both internet access and digital assets. Officials have ordered more than 20 major companies — including banks, retailers, and media outlets — to actively block users from accessing their platforms via virtual private network (VPN) services. To enforce the measures, officials handed companies a blacklist of prohibited VPNs along with instructions for detecting and blocking them. Firms that refuse to comply risk losing privileged regulatory status, including tax benefits and mandatory pre-installation on devices sold in Russia. Simultaneously, Russia’s central bank is pushing new rules requiring identity verification for digital asset traders using domestic platforms, which would make it harder for Russians to withdraw funds into self-custodial wallets without authoritarian state permission. Together, the measures tighten control over two of the last available avenues for digital and financial privacy in Russia. FinancialFreedomReport.org

Nunchuk Adds Coldcard HSM Support for Bitcoin Agentshttps://x.com/nunchuk_io/status/2046952168213840056

Mempool v3.3 Released with Advanced Bitcoin Featureshttps://x.com/mempool/status/2046578616453214646

Fedi Enables BTC Payments to Indian UPI QR Codeshttps://x.com/fedibtc/status/2043706877532307822

Wisp v1.0.0 Officially Launches on Google Play with Major Updateshttps://primal.net/e/nevent1qqsqqqquvylwaussq3hleveu7hk9tk6sgf4jhh3x63nsgtsj00qn79g262yyp

QnA: Got It Working on Real Hardware Before Vegas (LFG!)https://primal.net/e/nevent1qqsvfcu924zerqmwux6uftfuhuz5lyqme3lrzmcjat8hrz4x6vwt9qc445tlt

Fold Launches Bitcoin Bonus Program for Employershttps://x.com/fold_app/status/2047335299588542957

Strike Expands Bitcoin Lending Access with Lower Minimumshttps://x.com/Strike/status/2046334859673530572

Bitcoiners: Pay Duty-Free with Bitcoin at Oslo Airporthttps://primal.net/e/nevent1qqsgjm9svsml0uht4yapyn7ul26m5pyuvdg9x3zfnktwhkrzklec37cuawntt

Amazon Exposed for Secret Price Manipulation with Walmart, Levi's & Morehttps://primal.net/e/nevent1qqspxu86m3u52ndltew7t02cwt8y44hrwcwtadgu6l0fq07zj9ug27cctyu5c

Microsoft plans first-ever voluntary employee buyout for up to 7% of U.S. workforce https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/23/microsoft-plans-first-voluntary-retirement-program-for-us-employees.html

3:33 - Opening riff

9:13 - Dashboard

10:53 - RHR review

14:43 - Iran blackout

26:53 - Palantir

36:33 - Signal

39:33 - ADM Paparo

52:53 - Tether

1:01:18 - Hormuz scammers

1:04:03 - Disappearing scientists

1:07:13 - UCI