ilbtccouncil
Illinois Bitcoin Council

A 501(c)(6) nonprofit dedicated to fostering the responsible growth & adoption of Bitcoin in Illinois through education, advocacy, & collaboration.

Public Key

npub1zdrdaucy6wcyeuyll4dnljt3zmn8wuq4dvhdxv47npkhwpfy0fkqcmd6gz

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqspx3k77vzd8vzv7z0l6kele9c3denhwq2kktknx2lfsmthq5j85mqprfmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuumpw35x7ctjv3jhytnrdaksz9mhwden5te0v35hyetrw3hhy7fw09skyafwd4jsrvu4rd

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npub1zdrdaucy6wcyeuyll4dnljt3zmn8wuq4dvhdxv47npkhwpfy0fkqcmd6gz

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Last Notes

2026-07-18 11:44:00 UTC

A Tax on Your Worst Day
Illinois's new digital asset tax takes its cut even when you sell at a loss — and that's a moral line, not a technicality.
https://open.substack.com/pub/ilbtccouncil/p/a-tax-on-your-worst-day
https://blossom.primal.net/0f19f794d833927cdb6c5b08cdaae22a7cfc6bdcdc98f4f0c9e2f44c58933b25.png

2026-06-25 19:07:10 UTC

Grateful to @nprofile…s9ex & @nprofile…lc7c for having us on @nprofile…74fj today to discuss the #ILDigitalAssetTax https://www.youtube.com/live/b-n7QdvHlWE?t=2971&is=xJA8YKfkt93oeH3K

2026-06-20 21:26:58 UTC

Illinois just became the first state to tax digital asset transactions... and most people here have no idea it passed.
It takes effect Jan 1, 2027, but the rules aren't written yet. That's the window to shape them.
Here's what the law actually does 👇
https://illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/il-digital-asset-tax

2026-06-17 19:43:47 UTC

TLDR: #Illinois 0.2% Tax
-Rate: 0.2%: on broker/business activity for IL customers. NOT on owning crypto. NOT on gains.
-Who collects it: exchanges, custodians, wallet/transfer providers ("brokers"). Out-of-state brokers pulled in at $100K IL receipts.
-Penalty: Class 3 felony for unregistered/noncompliant brokers (+ corpofficers/agents) — 2–5 yrs, up to $25K.
-Revenue: ~$60M/yr from crypto. Budget is $56B. → ~0.1% of the budget.
-First in the nation. No other state taxes digital assets this way.

2026-06-17 18:31:38 UTC

I was honored to discuss the new Illinois Bitcoin Tax with Blockspace Media today... https://www.youtube.com/live/qSUAnjYH4Sg?t=1232s

2026-06-17 18:26:47 UTC

I was honored to discuss the new Illinois Bitcoin Tax with Blockstream Media today...
https://www.youtube.com/live/qSUAnjYH4Sg?si=dQteJY7kTU8AEUCe&t=1232

2026-05-19 23:28:42 UTC

"A Breakthrough": White House Says Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Announcement Is Imminent https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/breakthrough-white-house-says-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-announcement-imminent

2026-04-27 10:25:43 UTC

Bitcoin demonetizes housing and drives prices back down for families. https://blossom.primal.net/1d12ce992dc3df10ad273291364268235c180a85b2c127217df6a8e9612dd47f.mp4

2026-03-31 11:44:53 UTC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4pkmOHDNas&t=4s

2026-03-14 22:56:39 UTC

Cambridge Study: Bitcoin Shows Strong Resilience to Submarine Cable Failures Over 11 Years. Source: arxiv.org/pdf/2602.14372 https://blossom.primal.net/4946eba94409d21f220e683caf944c5eacaf0f19ae1c65b60dd33984557ff32f.jpg

2026-03-12 10:56:44 UTC

This recent SEC-CFTC MOU is overwhelmingly positive for #Bitcoin medium-to-long term. It ends jurisdictional turf wars, enables coordinated oversight, data sharing, joint exams/enforcement, and reinforces BTC's commodity status under CFTC.
PROS:
-Major regulatory clarity: Removes uncertainty/overlaps that deterred institutions; BTC's commodity treatment is solidified with less SEC interference risk.
-Accelerates institutional inflows: Unlocks sidelined capital (potentially trillions) via easier ETF expansions, custody, derivatives, and TradFi integration.
-Faster product innovation/approvals: Streamlined coordination for new BTC-related products, better surveillance, and reduced duplicative rules.
-Boosts U.S. market competitiveness: Helps reverse offshoring; aligns with pro-crypto momentum for mainstream adoption.
-Bullish long-term sentiment: Viewed as foundational de-risking event, supporting stronger price foundations.
CONS:
-Short-term muted impact: Mostly structural (not immediate catalyst); macro factors (e.g., geopolitics, oil shocks) can still dominate near-term price.
-Stronger unified enforcement: Coordinated crackdowns on fraud/manipulation could hit gray-area BTC services or bad actors harder.
-No full deregulation: Compliance burdens remain heavy for intermediaries; overly conservative joint rules could slow niche BTC innovation.
-Implementation delays possible: Benefits depend on execution speed of working groups and harmonization, bureaucracy could frustrate timelines. https://blossom.primal.net/8eb071c76ed14b73a4477e61b211fd0d71b7870a415aecb577609b6cd9689f5a.png

2026-03-03 18:51:44 UTC

https://www.moneyforai.org/
New Study from BPI: Frontier AI agents prefer bitcoin over stablecoins and other forms of money.
BPI tested 36 models over 9000+ conversations, and the AIs overwhelmingly chose to use Bitcoin for their economic activity.

2026-02-26 22:40:57 UTC

Yesterday, Feb 25, the Illinois Bitcoin Council hit the state capitol in Springfield, IL for a full day of advocacy during the February legislative session. We focused on educating policymakers about #Bitcoin's potential for economic empowerment and fiscal resilience in #Illinois. It was a productive day of meetings, workshops, and real conversations! 🟠
Huge shoutout to our amazing team of #Bitcoin-ers who made this happen: Tolbyus Shephard (Founder of Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve), Yan Pritzker (Co-Founder, Swan Bitcoin), Andrew Tilmann (Bitcoin Scholarship Foundation & Midwest Bitcoin Summit), Brady Pugliese (Unchained Capital), Tim Niemeyer (our President), Mark Hurley (IBC Advocacy Coordinator), and Emmanuel (tech & media support).
Grateful for the time with key policymakers who engaged thoughtfully. Special thanks to Senator Steve McClure for sponsoring SB3672 (Local Digital Asset Invest Act), which creates a clear framework for digital asset investments at the state level.
In addition to SB3672, we advocated for SB3743 (Community Bitcoin Reserve Act) sponsored by Sen Emil Jones III, which designates the Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve as a state-recognized pilot for community treasuries—the nation's first! These bills aren't competing; they complement each other to clear regulatory gray areas and protect communities, allowing them to build a path towards self-sufficiency. Bills are in assignments now; energy committee next. House & Senate schedules are tricky, but we're pushing forward.
The afternoon workshop for the Illinois House GOP was a crucial step to building a sustainable future. A HUGE shout out to Rep. John Cabello for hosting this event! We addressed questions, emphasized long-term horizons, and highlighted how #Bitcoin fixes many of the issues facing our great state. Shout out to https://blossom.primal.net/2d8e24b14b1d4ec233e4ab95cb3a07ab4a3d1c2d4ceb26e97312d737bea581c7.jpg Lawrence Lepard for the copies of "The Big Print"!
On the federal side, we met with Congresswoman Mary Miller to advocate incorporating similar community reserve and digital asset language into the Clarity Act.
What can you do?
- Contact your IL legislators to support SB3743 & SB3672; get them moving through committees!
- Support the Illinois Bitcoin Council; volunteer your time and/or resources so we can reach our potential.
Together, we can paint #Illinois orange! 🟠
Learn more and join us: illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/membership
https://blossom.primal.net/82f9972b5cca3a6038830ad737725ea19fe77437e16d979f06d90bc52e9a692e.jpg https://blossom.primal.net/a9682a0dd9fb63456545d8cb60cdfbbb89afab187844deee526e95b9fe93d5aa.jpg https://blossom.primal.net/902fa88d5c15c8915edf51e5b1c995c91d619c345e9dc68cae61b9a8b9bb6f77.jpg https://blossom.primal.net/bec29256d0f3c29aa16a3b8c1d93112960c5f8b0815053ccb6036ef8b5c435c2.jpg https://blossom.primal.net/da46c8399d6c472fcf22fb6b916b53aacf8337ab4dbbbadaf24bbc67caf716f5.jpg https://blossom.primal.net/7b12649006f0dd098a07e89d925662ea7e4222860370b3e51d0f83b313442c4a.jpg

2026-02-23 01:24:27 UTC

#Bitcoin is for criminals lol
https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2026-crypto-crime-report-introduction/ https://blossom.primal.net/f2a5bfcdfbbafee5e9cd6d0775103593983f56b758c4dcdc6f005fd7c74ddb96.png

2026-02-13 15:43:46 UTC

The Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve is bringing financial sovereignty to one of Chicago's most underserved communities. Altgeld Gardens has been ignored by the legacy system for decades, Tolbyus Shephard's ABR is changing that with Bitcoin education, savings tools, and on-the-ground empowerment. Help us grow this movement:
Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/eVq9AMeWw3t73Yz1S40x201
Square: https://checkout.square.site/.../BQTEFWZ3ZAXBA3RK2Z3HQWJ2
By funding the ABR, you're funding hope. ⚡️
📚 https://altgeldbitcoinreserve.com/

2026-02-12 21:42:47 UTC

We stand at a crossroads in Illinois. Our state's unfunded pension liabilities exceed $140 billion. Year after year, we're promised solutions while debasing the currency that working families depend on. The same forces that inflated away your grandparents' savings are now targeting your children's future.
But there is an alternative...
The Illinois Bitcoin Council exists to advance honest money in a state addicted to monetary fiction. We are business owners, developers, educators, and citizens who refuse to accept that the best we can hope for is a slower decline.
Sound money discipline respects property rights. It lowers time preference. It rewards savings over speculation. It does not ask permission from politicians.
If you believe Illinois can lead rather than follow, if you want to build systems that outlast the next election cycle, then you belong here. We are building the educational infrastructure, the policy frameworks, and the professional networks that will define #Bitcoin's role in this state's economic future.
The exit from monetary tyranny is being constructed one block at a time. Join us. Not to speculate. To build.
👉 illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/membership

2026-02-10 04:41:05 UTC

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Ausgezeichnet!

2026-02-08 13:37:47 UTC

Hey #Bitcoin-ers, help us spread the word! It's early, but #Illinois has two new pieces of legislation introduced...
-Community Bitcoin Reserve Act (SB3743) https://ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=3743&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=167046&SessionID=114
-Digital Asset Investment Act (SB3672) https://ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=3672&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=166866&SessionID=114
IYKYK; Illinois has a bad rap for being hostile to Bitcoin, but that is changing! https://blossom.primal.net/83dcae12685de82a78c281ed89d1feaba1d54a5edc48c610e1400863d8492061.jpg https://blossom.primal.net/eafe803bf352ce907f15e59e96ede98bd014d31f4bcb3081de81b3e22cb0bcb5.png

2026-02-07 00:19:31 UTC

The Digital Asset Investment Act has been introduced allowing #Illinois to invest in #Bitcoin and associated products! https://ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/104/SB/10400SB3672.htm
https://blossom.primal.net/b66d8c1e7c8f6d1972b56881d2d35e4006f7b200cbf454223abfd190e3526527.png

2026-02-06 17:29:50 UTC

#Bitcoin history is being made in Illinois.
The Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve just became the nation's first community-run Bitcoin treasury to gain formal state recognition.
Here's the story of how a public housing community built in 1945 is becoming a model for financial sovereignty
The Backdrop:
Altgeld Gardens was built for African American WWII veterans.
It became a stark example of environmental racism:
• Surrounded by toxic waste
• Highest cancer rates in Illinois
• Poverty below $12k per capita
• 90% African American population
This is where the environmental justice movement was born in 1979.
The Pivot:
In March 2025, IBC member Tolbyus Shephard founded the Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve.
The mission: transform 80 years of economic injustice into generational wealth through a community-controlled Bitcoin treasury.
How it works:
1. Acquire and hold Bitcoin in transparent DAO treasury
2. Run revenue programs (financial literacy, trucking ownership)
3. Reinvest 50% of profits to grow the reserve
4. Distribute benefits to residents
The Momentum
August 2025: IL Rep John Cabello meets with Altgeld leaders
October 2025: Illinois House Resolution 0446 recognizes ABR as the nation's first community Bitcoin reserve
January 2026: Tolbyus meets with IL House Minority Leader Tony McCombie at the State Capitol
February 2026: Senate Bill 3743 introduced — the Community Bitcoin Reserve Act
Why This Matters:
In communities like Altgeld, Bitcoin is a tool for:
• Economic transformation
• Financial sovereignty
• Community-led development
• Breaking cycles of exclusion
The Lesson:
When traditional institutions have failed a community for 80 years, Bitcoin offers an alternative.
The Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve proves it.
Credit to Tolbyus Shephard for the vision and relentless advocacy.
Proud that the Illinois Bitcoin Council supports this work.
https://blossom.primal.net/3ee1376c49e1e0450ca8bd5f814e1ee64e0340d94088368e3058573172a25126.jpg

2026-02-06 11:48:06 UTC

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Proud of all the work Tolbyus Shephard has put forth so far for his community in Altgeld Gardens, Illinois. Thanks to his vision, Illinois now has SB3743 - Community Bitcoin Reserve Act on the books! We at the IBC support you, Tolbyus!
https://ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=3743&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=167046&SessionID=114
#nevent1q…0wdc

2026-02-06 02:47:29 UTC

#Illinois proposes the Community #Bitcoin Reserve Act!
The bill creates a state program to hold Bitcoin in multisig cold storage, starting with Tolbyus Shephard’s Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve. BTC cannot be traded or sold without new legislation.

2026-01-24 13:03:02 UTC

Local businesses in Las Vegas are beginning to accept #Bitcoin payments, following a national trend showing it gaining traction among merchants cutting costs and attracting customers. https://blossom.primal.net/7671645af59f4b3020c8f98e5e9251945086c9983f11f6f2082672983df1e49e.mp4

2026-01-22 19:07:24 UTC

Grateful for the opportunity to support Tolbyus Shephard's Altgeld #Bitcoin Reserve at the State Capitol! Thank you to House Minority Leader Tony McCombie and IL Representative John Cabello for their leadership.
Special shout out to IBC Advocacy Coordinator & Board member, Mark Hurley, for his support. https://blossom.primal.net/43219b673023e623ff1c4107fe37d59f0ea88c77b4a8af0f414f3a189f27e9d7.jpg

2026-01-19 01:15:06 UTC

#Bitcoin presentation at the Rock of Our Salvation Church in Chicago, Illinois today with Andrew Tilmann & Tolbyus Shephard! https://www.youtube.com/live/QfJjWFKFwNI

2026-01-15 12:36:45 UTC

CLARITY Act TL;DR
https://blossom.primal.net/4ba922c05d48dc564c5d6d6927a6fddd9e079612a58bb7fac10f75a9d3db5fc3.jpg

2026-01-14 00:35:56 UTC

CLARITY Act Update
Bitcoin is one of the clearest winners under the Senate Banking Committee's draft digital asset market structure bill. Here's how it specifically affects Bitcoin based on the bill's key classifications & provisions.
1. Classification as a "Network Token" (Non-Ancillary/ Commodity Status)
-The bill distinguishes between "ancillary assets" (tokens still tied to significant issuer/entrepreneurial efforts → remain under heavy SEC oversight with disclosure requirements) and "network tokens" (sufficiently decentralized → treated as non-securities/digital commodities under CFTC primary jurisdiction).
-Bitcoin is the textbook example of a mature, decentralized network token. Multiple sources and community discussions highlight that BTC automatically qualifies as non-ancillary due to:
-No ongoing issuer control (no central foundation or company driving value post-launch).
-Long-established decentralization (mining, nodes, governance).
-A special grandfathering clause reinforces this: A token is explicitly considered non-ancillary (i.e., not a security) if it was the principal asset of a U.S.-listed exchange-traded product (ETP/ETF) as of January 1, 2026.
-Bitcoin spot ETFs have been live and dominant since 2024 → BTC is locked into commodity treatment from day one, removing any lingering SEC securities risk.
2. Practical Impacts for Bitcoin
-Regulatory relief and clarity: Ends years of SEC "regulation by enforcement" threats against BTC. Oversight shifts mostly to the more crypto-friendly CFTC (similar to how gold or oil futures are handled).
-Easier institutional adoption: Banks and custodians get clearer authority to custody BTC, facilitate spot/derivatives trading, staking/lending (where applicable), and even operate nodes, listed as "incidental to banking" activities.
-Self-custody protection: The bill includes strong language prohibiting federal restrictions on self-hosted wallets/vaults, a big philosophical and practical win for Bitcoin's "not your keys, not your coins" ethos.
-Bitcoin ATMs/kiosks: New disclosure, refund, and fraud-protection rules apply, which could make the kiosk business more regulated (and potentially more expensive), but this is a minor side-effect compared to the core classification wins.
-No major downsides: Unlike many altcoins that might start as "ancillary" and need to decentralize/certify over time (with heavy disclosures in the interim), Bitcoin faces virtually none of these hurdles.
3. Broader Market Context
-The bill is seen as extremely bullish for BTC in community and analyst discussions, providing the strongest federal recognition yet that Bitcoin is a commodity, not a security.
-It positions the U.S. as more attractive for Bitcoin-related innovation and capital compared to stricter regimes like Europe's MiCA.
-While the bill still needs markup (scheduled ~Jan 15, 2026), amendments, and full passage, Bitcoin is the asset with the least uncertainty and the most immediate, ironclad protections.
https://blossom.primal.net/e30eb633bf0be39683537fa1cbe5587aac806cb0695bb90e24e53e20293f74ae.png

2026-01-04 21:35:56 UTC

Join us for our upcoming Spaces on Bitcoin inheritance planning w/ IBC Vice President @JeffHilsenbeck
With @XSTACI as our host, we'll talk to industry professionals like Illinois' own Brady Pugliese.
https://x.com/i/spaces/1MYxNlVrDlOGw

2026-01-03 23:44:23 UTC

Fiat left on the streets in Venezuela due to hyperinflation...
h/t @nprofile…kxcv
https://blossom.primal.net/82438663f77ade2a57f91fa82c39a925111314499cc6982f403a2c7ffb580eec.mp4

2026-01-02 23:56:21 UTC

Traditional money demands endless labor to offset inflation due to endless printing; your savings erode unless you constantly earn more (lost ~25% value over past 5 yrs).
Bitcoin's fixed supply is the solution. Simply storing your wealth in it grows value without additional effort (gained ~350% value over past 5 yrs).
No intermediaries skimming fees. No central authority debasing supply.
Stack sats. Let the protocol work for you. https://blossom.primal.net/346877b29a56aec53f9f5f6b44985e4df6e951c3a42cf9d01c19b7e5835cab8c.jpg

2026-01-01 16:11:34 UTC

We now know unequivocally from 22 peer reviewed studies, 8 independent reports and extensive empirical data from grid operators and methane mitigation operations that Bitcoin mining helps:
- balance grids
- mitigate methane
- prevent wasted renewable energy
- promote the accelerated uptake of sustainable energy on the grid
This is made possible not because Bitcoin mining operations are more virtuous than other industries, but as a serendipitous byproduct of economic necessity.
2 factors - each unique in the history or energy consumption - render Bitcoin mining accidentally very positive for the environment, price stability and energy security.
1. It's capacity to ramp up and down its entire load for long period within 500 ms
2. the fact that 80% of all Bitcoin mining operation cost is spend on electricity
Once you grok how this works, you graduate to informed Bitcoin mining critic: you realize Bitcoin mining doesn't use enough energy
h/t - Daniel Batten

2025-12-31 16:52:58 UTC

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all members, volunteers, & supporters of the Illinois Bitcoin Council! With your help, we've laid the ground work for continued growth of #Bitcoin adoption in #Illinois. Check out what we've accomplished thus far...
Education:
-16-week Curriculum: Blends financial literacy with Bitcoin basics for homeschoolers (free Mi Primer Bitcoin account needed)
-8-week Course: Assists small businesses in integrating Bitcoin and Lightning Network payments (free Mi Primer Bitcoin account needed)
-Workshops: Developing for local churches and communities
-Consumer Reports: Created for Bitcoin industries including Bitcoin-Only Exchanges, Payment Processors, Hardware Wallets, Lending Products, and Lightning Node Solutions
Advocacy:
-Policymaker Engagement: Developing relationships with state officials
-Legislation: Proposing pro-Bitcoin bills and policy position papers
-Education Provision: Delivering individualized sessions and offering workshops for staff
-Sharing Research: Curating a list of top research papers on Bitcoin mining
Collaboration:
-Merchant onboarding: Door-to-door visits to explain Lightning Network benefits and enable acceptance
-Partnerships: Building adjacent non-profit connections for expanded outreach
Supporting Initiatives:
-Bitcoin Scholarship Foundation (BSF): 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing time-locked Bitcoin scholarships and financial literacy to underprivileged youth
-Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve (ABR): Chicago's first community-led BTC reserve (recognized by the IL House) located in Altgeld Gardens, Chicago’s highest-poverty neighborhood
-Chicago BitDevs Co-Working Space: Initiative to establish a hub modeled on Bitcoin Park
Check us out at https://linktr.ee/ilbtccouncil

2025-12-30 12:50:38 UTC

Discover how #Bitcoin mining operations in Wyoming are capturing wasted flare gas to generate power, significantly reducing methane emissions equivalent to removing hundreds of thousands of cars from the road, as featured in this 60 Minutes report.
https://youtu.be/iRO1ahYzMcw?si=HVHQi-afRqy0dTUR

2025-12-29 02:36:48 UTC

Stone Ridge, with almost $30B in assets under management, just said the quiet part out loud... https://blossom.primal.net/11bd5dfd8c3c61fa9d6af2e88912e7e14d3e8d94714fad5a1863f99d36a5ce38.jpg

2025-12-26 18:33:02 UTC

EMPOWERING WEALTH PROLIFERATION: Why De Minimis #Bitcoin Tax Exemption Surpasses Centralized Extraction
Bypassing inefficient gov't allocation leads to direct wealth proliferation. This position paper advocates for a de minimis tax exemption for BTC.
https://illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/advocacy/f/empowering-wealth-proliferation

2025-12-24 19:00:13 UTC

The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act has the potential to curb #Bitcoin manipulation as a CFTC-regulated decentralized commodity!
Key mechanisms:
-Splits oversight: CFTC for Bitcoin-like decentralized commodities; SEC for security-like assets
-Mandates trade monitoring/recordkeeping for CFTC-regulated exchanges/brokers/dealers handling Bitcoin
-Enforces Bank Secrecy Act AML rules to block Bitcoin fraud
Outcomes:
-Boosts bitcoin transaction transparency
-Bans customer asset commingling in bitcoin trading
-Targets bitcoin wash trading/spoofing via commodity laws

2025-12-21 20:53:42 UTC

Pro-#Bitcoin legislation is necessary to promote not only the industry but its principles of freedom, sovereignty, and decentralization. Here's what we're proposing:
-Illinois Bitcoin Rights Act
-Illinois Digital Asset Self-Custody Act
-Illinois Municipal Digital Asset Investment Act
-Illinois Bitcoin Tax Exemption Act
-Illinois Bitcoin Innovation Act
-Illinois Bitcoin Mining Freedom Act
Learn more at illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/advocacy

2025-12-21 13:19:52 UTC

Check out our #Lightning Node Solution Consumer Report! https://illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/lightning-node-solutions

2025-12-20 17:02:43 UTC

Illinois #Bitcoin Council: Education, advocacy, collaboration for #BTC adoption.
Join us: https://linktr.ee/ilbtccouncil #ILBTC https://blossom.primal.net/fab650e71d9a754da040a4b74c38942698239417615ab648983d54b64e8b248c.jpg

2025-12-18 11:38:32 UTC

Check out our BTC/LN Payment Processor Consumer Report! #Bitcoin https://illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/payment-processors

2025-12-17 20:45:03 UTC

Check out our #Bitcoin-Only Exchanges Consumer Reports! https://illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/exchanges

2025-12-13 12:33:01 UTC

CODE IS SPEECH: The 9th Circuit's Bernstein v. DOJ (1999) shields source code as First Amendment expression; language that conveys ideas. Jailing Samourai Wallet developers for open-source privacy tools is DOJ overreach.
Sign the petition for their pardon: https://billandkeonne.org/

2025-12-10 16:56:10 UTC

Check out this episode with Andrew Tilmann, CEO of The Bitcoin Scholarship Foundation, time-locked hope for the next generation, and why honest charity only works on Bitcoin. A powerful conversation about building the world we want to live in… https://youtu.be/H-3S9fv0WLI

2025-12-04 21:56:19 UTC

The greater the nodes, the stronger the network.
https://blossom.primal.net/b97580e2023de1725b438c9e4305a3af0550b9a79b04266fadd15b49bad4200d.mp4

2025-12-02 23:57:31 UTC

CALLING ALL ILLINOIS BITCOINERS: Please consider filling out a #Bitcoin-related survey, https://lpmc.us/btc, for the Mises Caucus.
Questions include:
-How do you feel about the current administration’s embrace of digital assets and its approach to regulating them?
-What are your thoughts on “crypto” as a whole compared to Bitcoin specifically?
-What is your opinion about the U.S. dollar and its long-term stability as a global reserve currency?
-When and how were you first introduced to Bitcoin?
-What role do you believe Bitcoin should play in the future of money and personal freedom in America?

2025-12-02 21:14:56 UTC

ChatGPT, how does Illinois compare to other states with governors in prison?
Here’s how Illinois compares to other states in terms of governors who have gone to prison — Illinois is #1.
🥇 Illinois: 4 governors in prison
No other state has as many former governors incarcerated.
🥈 States tied for second place (each with 2 governors who went to prison)
•Louisiana
•Tennessee
•Maryland
•Arkansas
•North Dakota
•West Virginia
•Arizona
Most other states have zero or one governor who has ever been imprisoned.
Why Illinois stands out
Illinois’ political machine history (Chicago + Springfield) produced:
•Patronage systems
•Pay-to-play corruption
•Long periods of single-party control
•Weak early ethics laws
This created an environment where corruption was easier and enforcement later became aggressive.
If you’d like, I can rank all states, or explain what each of those states’ governors went to prison for.

2025-11-30 18:50:51 UTC

This is the correct way to understand #Bitcoin...
"Some fundamental currencies... are physics-based. So energy is the real currency; this is why I said Bitcoin is based on energy. You can't legislate energy; you just pass a law and suddenly have a lot of energy. It's very difficult to generate energy or especially harness energy in any useful way to do useful work. So I think that probably we won't have money and will just have energy, power generation as the de facto currency." ~ Elon Musk https://blossom.primal.net/26c6b21930047e5e11cfbf8d43fda76db36a83d5f5948b05c5099eded17d4f2b.mp4

2025-11-29 17:28:18 UTC

https://blossom.primal.net/aa1037d2fb1f8a39ca8effeba619bd893b84244cc58f414b81fe96ddc481cdff.png

2025-11-28 20:32:57 UTC

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I would, but you’re obviously a scammer. Try harder.

2025-11-24 03:02:29 UTC

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The hypocrisy is unbelievable and disgusting.

2025-11-22 22:34:28 UTC

Let's paint the state orange! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM2jQ12MCJA

2025-11-21 19:41:03 UTC

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You love to see it! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

2025-11-21 19:38:29 UTC

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👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
#nevent1q…wdru

2025-11-21 06:02:17 UTC

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Back to $58k!

2025-11-20 16:18:22 UTC

Rep. Warren Davidson (R, Ohio) just dropped the #Bitcoin for America Act that:
✅ Turns Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve EO into permanent law
✅ Lets EVERY American pay federal taxes in Bitcoin with zero capital-gains tax on the payment
✅ Locks the reserve for at least 20 years (no spending it on pork)
✅ Allows voluntary “round-up” or direct contributions so the U.S. stack grows deficit-neutral
The Bitcoin Policy Institute crunched the numbers: if just 1% of taxpayers opt in, America saves hundreds of billions over 20 years vs. the $38T debt spiral.

2025-11-18 20:35:10 UTC

Help make #bitcoin everyday money. Email your representative to eliminate capital gains on bitcoin payments under $600.
https://btcismoney.xyz/

2025-11-16 00:55:10 UTC

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Jazz is where it’s at!

2025-11-15 23:45:23 UTC

@nprofile…7lvg any updates on Clover?
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/clover-integrates-bitcoin-lightning-with-strike

2025-11-15 13:47:00 UTC

Shout out to @nprofile…h2l4 & his @nprofile…nzvk!
They're helping the IBC paint #Illinois orange by connecting #Bitcoin's social layer.
Join us: https://signup.cluborange.org/co/ilbtccouncil https://blossom.primal.net/dce19a00f5f6b114835df8be823dbdec48c188059de219cfe0e73678c34bc7e8.gif

2025-11-10 18:22:21 UTC

#Bitcoin payments are now live on Square. To put this in context, Square is by far the POS leader, per Grok…
1. Square: 4.1 million active merchants worldwide.
2. Clover: 700,000 businesses globally.
3. Toast: 156,000 locations, primarily U.S. restaurants.
4. Lightspeed: 144,000 locations worldwide.
squ.re/acceptbitcoin
https://blossom.primal.net/09b65774e9e0385e7beec6a4b2911659ec8d6093a0915d0b5e8cf48133429c69.jpg

2025-11-08 23:42:00 UTC

Problem: In Illinois, median home prices hit $316,613 against $79,180 median income, a 4x ratio that devours 35%+ of earnings on a 30-year mortgage at 6.75%, birthing absurd 50-year debt traps to feign affordability amid 142,000-unit shortages.
Solution: Bitcoin siphons the monetary premium from bloated real estate, slashing prices to utility value as superior collateral frees capital from fiat speculation, ending mortgage servitude. https://blossom.primal.net/375862b30d0b7be23537a99b9ae996a2ccc1d7872ddaa7b3b6b5afcb4ada7b05.jpg

2025-11-03 21:27:15 UTC

The IBC is is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit dedicated to fostering the responsible growth and adoption of #Bitcoin in Illinois through education, advocacy, & collaboration.
https://youtube.com/shorts/lxhS5S8pCo0

2025-11-02 15:18:24 UTC

This is either morally, ethically, or intellectually bankrupt reporting. Please do your own research…
Read Ludwig von Mises who first claimed in his 1912 book The Theory of Money and Credit that inflation as an increase in the money supply not matched by rising demand for money, which lowers money’s purchasing power and causes price rises.
Monetary inflation leads to price inflation. This is why we Bitcoin.
https://blossom.primal.net/eee6c5b46dc40e404bc8047cea5c91a43252317f00b50d2b468c3e93c163ce41.jpg

2025-10-30 00:20:17 UTC

Andrew Hohns, founder/CEO of Battery Finance and Newmarket Capital, details #Bitcoin's role in fixing credit markets via collateral on a recent WBD episode. Let's use #Illinois pension crisis ($140B hole) as a case study showing how bitcoin's scarcity counters fiat debasement...
#Illinois pension crisis: $140B unfunded liability as of 2023. State devotes 20% of budget to stabilization payments. Taxes hiked repeatedly (property rates top 2.2%, income tax 4.95%). Result: 100K+ residents flee annually, gutting tax base, accelerating spiral.
Core thesis: Bitcoin collateral fixes credit markets warped by inflation. Fiat debasement erodes pensions (20-40% of funds in credit). #Illinois exemplifies: COLA-adjusted liabilities balloon to $174T nationally by 2034.
Hohns' model: Battery Finance issues loans backed by real estate & #Bitcoin. Underwrite assuming BTC=0; cash flows from assets cover debt. BTC upside shared 40-60% with borrower. First deal: $12.5M Philly multifamily, $1.5M buys 20 BTC. LTV drops as BTC rises, no volatility calls.
#Illinois application: Pension funds allocate to #bitcoin-backed bonds. Replaces inflation-vulnerable treasuries. BTC scarcity (21M cap, 95% mined) vs. gold's 1.5-2% annual dilution. Funds preserve real value; no more 5% Roman-style debasement over decades.
Inflation mechanics: Central banks monetize $37T U.S. debt via keystrokes. #Illinois mirrors; $40B general obligation bonds, interest > education spend. Video: Repeated bailouts (2008, COVID) inflate assets, debase savers. #Bitcoin hedges: Finite supply counters endless printing.
CBDC threat: 100+ countries test digital fiat for control (expiring funds, geo-fencing). #Illinois, already surveilled via IL SAVE, risks amplified erosion. Video: #Bitcoin as "freedom money" for 7B in unstable currencies. Mobile access equalizes savers from Chicago to rural counties.
Community rebuild: Video pushes #bitcoin for main streets. #Illinois towns (e.g., Rockford, Peoria) hollowed by out-migration, e-commerce. BTC loans at 6% (vs. 8%) + treasury allocation. Small biz adds uncorrelated asset: $10K BTC on $50K loan yields liquidity, appreciation.
#BitBonds proposal: Treasury issues bonds (90% funds spending, 10% buys BTC). 1% rate (vs. 4.5%); 50/50 upside split at maturity. U.S. guarantees principal. Savings: 25% interest cut, even if #bitcoin zeros. #Illinois pilots state BitBonds: Tax-exempt, stabilizes pensions sans tax hikes.
Projections: Historical #bitcoinreturns yield 10-20% investor yields. #Illinois: $25B tranche tests custody, scales to $140B liability. Offsets 20% budget drain. No new laws; market-driven. Counters Yellen-era short-term debt traps.
Behavioral shift: #Bitcoin enforces low-time preference. #Illinois workers, facing automation (trucking unions), save in sats vs. dissipating dollars. Farms recapitalize: BTC collateral funds equipment, draws youth vs. urban exodus. Reduces processed-food dependency; reclaims time for self-investment.
Risks mitigated: Loans lock #bitcoin 4+ years, align incentives. #Illinois adoption: Start municipal (Chicago studies via Adams model), scale statewide. Avoids California-style flight. Video data: Global assets inflate to quadrillions; BTC cycles persist but scarcity drives net upside.
Outcome: #Illinois deploys #bitcoin to term out debt, rebuild trust, halt spiral. Sovereigns lead or lag; video predicts U.S. federal pivot under BTC-literate policy. Funds protected; cities preserved. Cycle ends.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx65RWs7ZCw

2025-10-20 18:18:36 UTC

When priced in bitcoin, everything trends to zero…
https://blossom.primal.net/5a93aa47b6aa8f04c203b32dcff600cb0a0acdd3c6ea858e23f88bb7b69f6950.png

2025-10-19 23:46:14 UTC

Help grow #Bitcoin adoption in #Illinois. Check out our membership tiers! https://illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/membership

2025-10-16 10:49:48 UTC

What is money??
We use money every day. We trade our time, our trust, and our freedom for it. But how often do we stop to ask… what is money?
h/t - Bitcoin Cousin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKWQul0AYeU

2025-10-15 10:49:14 UTC

Act for advocacy & adoption
Champion censorship-resistant currency
Forge financial freedom forever
Harness hashpower for honesty
Propel peer-to-peer power
Secure sovereignty via scarcity
Think globally, act locally...
https://illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/membership

2025-10-12 18:42:34 UTC

We break down Bitcoin Policy's recent open letter to US senators regarding recent proposed DeFi framework...
-Reject the Proposed DeFi Framework: Urge rejection of Senate Democrats' draft DeFi oversight proposal, as it grants Treasury excessive discretion, effectively banning open peer-to-peer financial tech in the US.
-Preserve Developer Protections from the CLARITY Act: Retain CLARITY Act's standards distinguishing regulated intermediaries from unregulated software based on control over assets or transactions.
-Avoid Arbitrary Enforcement Risks: Oppose treating software developers, governance participants, and others as financial intermediaries, risking criminal penalties for code publication.
-Protect Core Values and Innovation: Safeguard free expression, permissionless innovation, and blockchain's peer-to-peer architecture to maintain US leadership in finance and tech.
-Adopt the CLARITY Act as Alternative: Use CLARITY Act's bright-line test for regulation to support innovation without undermining non-custodial systems.
-Engage in Discussion: Offer discussions on alternatives to address illicit finance and regulatory coherence without threatening developers.
https://www.btcpolicy.org/articles/open-letter-to-members-of-the-united-states-senate-on-the-proposed-defi-framework-and-the-need-to-preserve-developer-protections-from-clarity

2025-10-10 12:40:50 UTC

The US Dollar lost ~3% of its value so far in 2025. To put that in perspective…
OVER A 10-YEAR SPAN, YOU’D HAVE LOST 25% OF YOUR VALUE
#Bitcoin’s fixed 21M supply solves for the pernicious persistence of currency debasement.

2025-10-09 00:47:08 UTC

New research says 75% chance Bitcoin goes over $1.15 million by 2028
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5386623
https://blossom.primal.net/f9549e99819fceef6494d76223996b5c33eab7abd645874d7a0ec3546aac45dd.jpg

2025-10-07 15:12:38 UTC

The hurdle rate is the minimum rate of return an investment or project must achieve to be considered acceptable, often adjusted for risk.
#Bitcoin is the hurdle rate.
https://blossom.primal.net/56badae0be51820d26b27c483a58830cb302e04a68d55c41f088b6bdecba22f5.jpg

2025-10-06 16:15:50 UTC

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Global south I bet will be decentralized while the global north will not be.

2025-10-06 11:48:45 UTC

QUESTION: Are great ideas forced or voluntary?
ANSWER: Great ideas do not require force.
CONTEXT: #Bitcoin is voluntary.
https://blossom.primal.net/c4fe43012caac56c0abfffaea48ef6f5bee3beab2bc7c17ee92933e98029aeb2.png

2025-10-03 16:22:46 UTC

What’s your unit of account? #Bitcoin
https://blossom.primal.net/8a14f3df4c6cb6784107230004ec37793aee8d96870ca82abaa66db2a2417b30.jpg

2025-09-28 15:19:34 UTC

We've recently started the Illinois Bitcoin Council, a 501(c)(6) focused on #Bitcoin education, advocacy, & collaboration. We're looking to grow, and are looking for passionate Bitcoiners to help support our mission. Here's how you can get involved...
Become a Member: Support our mission with a membership and gain access to exclusive events, resources, and networking opportunities. Sign up at illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/membership.
Volunteer Your Skills: Whether you’re a tech wizard, a policy advocate, or a community organizer, we need your energy to:
-Run Bitcoin workshops to educate newcomers.
-Engage policymakers to promote Bitcoin-friendly legislation.
-Help local businesses adopt Lightning for fast, low-cost transactions.
Donate: Your contributions will fund educational programs, outreach efforts, and advocacy campaigns to spread Bitcoin’s benefits far and wide.
Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

2025-09-27 15:17:50 UTC

Painting the state orange, one brush stroke at a time...
Do you live in #Illinois and are into #Bitcoin? Consider joining us!
https://illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/membership
https://blossom.primal.net/93e47f014eba0ed450fd5100cc32911a3b076b0b433a615c9823204d8b51dab2.png

2025-09-22 15:57:27 UTC

We’re proud to welcome @npub1s9z…nszc to the Illinois Bitcoin Council Board of Directors.
As a leading expert in Bitcoin & digital asset law, Joe’s insights will drive our mission to advance #Bitcoin adoption in Illinois.
Join us in congratulating him!

2025-09-21 12:46:21 UTC

Senator Cynthia Lummis says a U.S. #Bitcoin Strategic Reserve holding 1 million BTC for 20 years could wipe out half of the $37 trillion national debt. https://blossom.primal.net/7b614995ee514d820ddb3247be5ae7d42484a82e3e65b7d45254694f0e0c9a3e.mp4

2025-09-19 23:40:34 UTC

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Possible response:
As a Bitcoiner, I see the GENIUS Act’s focus on regulating stablecoins as a positive step for Bitcoin by establishing a clearer legal framework for digital assets in the U.S. This clarity can enhance Bitcoin’s legitimacy, encouraging more people like me to adopt it as a decentralized store of value and medium of exchange, especially with its open, 24/7 global payments and fixed supply that protect my wealth from currency debasement. The Act’s emphasis on innovation and risk mitigation could indirectly support Bitcoin’s ecosystem by fostering broader acceptance of digital payment technologies, potentially increasing demand for Bitcoin as a complementary asset.
However, potential drawbacks to Bitcoin adoption could arise if regulations inadvertently blur the lines between stablecoins and decentralized assets like Bitcoin, leading to overreach in compliance requirements. For instance, imposing heavy AML/KYC rules or restricting non-custodial use could deter new users, as I value Bitcoin’s peer-to-peer nature and self-custody options. This would be a net negative for everyone, stifling financial freedom, reducing economic participation, and pushing innovation overseas, where Bitcoin adoption might thrive unchecked while the U.S. loses its competitive edge in the global digital asset market.
Thank you for considering my perspective.
#nevent1q…c9j7

2025-09-19 23:29:36 UTC

https://www.regulations.gov/docket/TREAS-DO-2025-0037 https://blossom.primal.net/11001d57a3655afde302a79dd8f551f6af24b92d8a61502526996dcee5f94338.png

2025-09-14 13:46:13 UTC

Let this sink in for moment. Then go outside, take a deep breath, and relax because bitcoin escapes this madness.
https://www.investopedia.com/2025-american-dream-costs-more-than-usd5-million-11796727
https://blossom.primal.net/d9e2eecf23c3130136f8bfb33d71813418a554ce23eaece343d2068fc6494488.jpg

2025-09-10 12:32:48 UTC

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Hope they say we saved the world from total destruction.

2025-09-10 12:28:52 UTC

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Magic happens!

2025-09-07 20:22:33 UTC

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It’s definitely sphere.

2025-09-06 03:07:17 UTC

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I circled the globe in six days.

2025-09-05 20:14:34 UTC

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This is how you listen to Larry and Walker.
https://blossom.primal.net/b27587fa953622cddccd04635a7edb1ce1bb6e49821dfd52198db21b731878f5.jpg

2025-09-02 11:13:31 UTC

This past Sunday, the IBC had a small gathering to enjoy the labor weekend. We had about 35 adults and 11 kids. It was a wonderful time to talk bitcoin, flying, and the goal of the IBC to paint Illinois orange. This state is in dire need of positive change.
@nprofile…syk4 gave five introductory flights, and one with @nprofile…6zhd daughter.
More to come from the IBC
@npub1h88…pz20
https://blossom.primal.net/9d0aff6ed5b9f2097701983c7c7fe6234f6f4350230fb107b1253db8a5c9b11f.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/8c527574e9a5c138c374e455a46b5290c418d3c00a89e242f106e6ed6b3a1786.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/3a37d7f20b18fae2ef99937f69d4507fbabde82ceb2fc47c7d2c2c842f4bbc51.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/160ac10c2dca03bef4ec5fe1ebb2f1302bb3062afd41b74f95844bc0dd8eda92.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/6d8ce81a0565d0dd2c5ef6e51faffca64995573942cf83f4de03b4f4f3cdf0ec.mov

2025-09-01 23:45:31 UTC

If you're in Kansas City, MO next weekend, come and say hi!
https://blossom.primal.net/29b7e6276ea8b596cb9fb1ebd2d47be17d82cd28b7ddcca9c5363d4b585f2eef.png

2025-08-27 20:03:36 UTC

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Great show with very enthusiastic guests!

2025-08-23 20:40:00 UTC

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A very beautiful day indeed.

2025-08-23 20:22:29 UTC

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Yes it is.

2025-08-23 20:21:34 UTC

Illinois Bitcoin Council is now on Nostr. Our new foundation is focusing on bitcoin education, advocacy, and collaboration in the state of Illinois. Please support IBC and follow us as we work to paint Illinois orange. www.illinoisbitcoincouncil.org.

2025-08-23 01:16:29 UTC

https://linktr.ee/ilbtccouncil
https://blossom.primal.net/3748c9b701735c4a66ac42382cffcd3c40cf2659bde85f4a7031fa8ad453863b.png