Happy 4th of July!

This is a time when Americans celebrate our country by BBQing with in-laws and detaching fingers from hands using illegal fireworks.

But more than an excuse for noise pollution and a trip to the ER, the 4th of July is a time to reconsider the ideals on which this country was built.

What a perfect day to travel back in time to Bitcoin’s origin, and its revolutionary ideals, and ask ourselves…

Is Bitcoin losing its war of independence?

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☕️ Crypto and the King 👑🇬🇧

England’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 has received royal assent from King Charles, marking the final stage before this bill becomes law.

This bill makes crypto a regulated financial activity in the U.K. That designation brings more scrutiny and transparency, and lets British lawmakers treat crypto like everything else.

“This landmark piece of legislation gives us control of our financial services rulebook, so it supports UK businesses and consumers and drives growth,” said Economic Secretary to the U.K. Treasury Andrew Griffith in a statement reported by CryptoSavingExpert.

King Charles was initially really excited about crypto, then decidedly less so when he learned these weren’t physical coins he could steal from other countries and exhibit in the British Museum.

☕️ Bitcoin Cash Soars 🚀💸

Bitcoin Cash hit a year-long high this week, surging well past the $300 mark.

This recent price bump is not only the result of Bitcoin Cash being listed by EDX Markets, but also some exciting developments in South Korea.

Backed by the Korean won, Bitcoin Cash saw a flurry of trading last week, at one point reaching $557.63 million in just 24 hours.

These trades took place on Upbit, a South Korean cryptocurrency exchange.

It would seem that this month’s Bitcoin mania has finally reached the shores of Korea.

If this trend with Upbit continues, Bitcoin Cash holders will certainly have plenty to be upb– …to feel good about.

☕️ Melania Trump Releases NFTs 🖼️🇺🇸

Melania Trump has released her own batch of NFTs on Solana.

The NFT collection is dubbed the “The 1776 Collection,” and features a series of animated American landmarks such as Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty.

The collection is made up of 3,500 NFTs in seven different styles.

Admittedly, Melania’s NFTs are far less strange than her husband's, which featured Donald Trump as an astronaut, cowboy, and some sort of intergalactic god.

And the price point reflects that. Donald Trump’s NFTs were priced at $99 a pop, while Melania’s are going for a mere $50.

We think the patriotic landscapes are a misstep, but If Melania ever wanted to be the subject of NFTs, we have some pitches of our own.

We’d want NFTs of Melania striking classic poses like the “forced smile,” “pained smile,” or “I traded love for money and power and maybe it wasn’t worth it.”

Spilling the Beans

Bitcoin's Independence Day 🇺🇸 💥

The year is 2008.

The world’s economies have been rocked by a global financial crisis.

And when facing any crisis, whether via drought or hair loss, the sharpest minds begin thinking of a solution.

But unlike a drought or hair loss, where scientists can point to climate patterns or bad genes, the 2008 financial crisis didn’t stem from one factor.

Yes, the shorting of the American housing market played a big part, but the world’s largest financial institutions were taking unbelievable risks on a systemic level.

The problem wasn’t with just one party. It was the system itself.

So, how do you devise an entirely new financial system?

Well, somewhere in the midst of that crisis, a single person, or possibly a team of cypherpunks, began writing a code.

And that code became a new type of currency. Bitcoin made its debut with the publishing of the Bitcoin white papers on a cryptography mailing list.

Those papers, entitled: “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic cash system” started us on the long, sometimes rocky road to decentralized, financial independence.

And while TradFi’s actions have pumped up Bitcoin in the short-term, it seems they’re coming back for that independence that Bitcoin promised.

Bitcoin set sail from TradFi in the hopes of settling new land where it could practice financial freedom. And yes, you were invited.

Sometimes, Bitcoin still had to pay its taxes. But it seems that’s not enough for TradFi. They won’t let Bitcoin become a country unto itself.

It’s a tale we’re all familiar with. It’s like, one of our favorite wars.

Scruffy, decentralized minute-men overwhelmingly outnumbered by the red-coated army of the greatest military power in the world.

But our “Bunker Hill” isn’t in Boston. It’s a conflict taking place on Bitcoin mining rigs all over the world. Our tea taxes are trading fees. And our muskets are… keyboards? Sorry, we’re running out of analogs to 18th-century controversies.

The revolution-era metaphors may feel silly. But the stakes of this situation are very real.

As Bitcoin and altcoins become “legitimized” by these giants of finance, they may lose the independence that they once stood for.

DeFi is philosophically incompatible with TradFi.

What was the point of all of the progress and debate if at the end of the day, you can only hold your crypto in a Bank of America-sanctioned wallet?

It’s hard to turn down TradFi’s offers. It means more money for crypto and more stability.

But think back to why crypto was created in the first place! That 2008 financial crisis was not so long ago, and Wall Street may not have your best interests at heart, if you can believe it.

What may seem like a massive, corporate merger, to others smells like an invasion.

We’re currently in a war for Bitcoin’s independence. And it’s a war we intend to win.

But even if Bitcoin doesn’t win this war. Even if it loses the independence that defines crypto…

We all know that it’s going to be a riot to put on Mr. Robot masks and dump crates of fiat currency into the harbor.

Meme of the Day

Crypto 101

Cryptography: Different than “crypto,” cryptography is the discipline and art of studying, writing, and solving code.

Naturally, crypto as we conventionally know it is derived from this practice. After all, the Bitcoin white papers were first shared on a cryptography mailing list called Metzdow.

It falls under cryptography’s umbrella as cryptography entails the methods through which crypto is transacted and traded safely, securely, and discreetly.

The Last Sip

The Last Sip: Here are the three essential dishes for any crypto 4th-of-July BBQ.

3. Crypt-Slaw. Cabbage, mayonnaise, and a dusting of DeFi, for flavor.

2. Bit-Lite. This light beer is the essential fuel for any holiday gathering. How are you going to go on a nationalistic rant about how we’re the greatest country in the world without some liquid encouragement?

1. Hot Doges. These meme sausages are as salty as they are volatile. While not technically (or legally) endorsed by Elon Musk, their legality will be decided by a lawsuit.

Stay Caffeinated,

Coffee & Crypto Team

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DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.