From Iran miner control to “OFAC compliant blocks,” a new attack vector has emerged.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, NEAR.org and Genesis Trading.

Today on the Brief:

• Square puts up monster Q1 bitcoin numbers
• First crypto comments from new SEC Chair Gary Gensler
• 3 new institutional bitcoin developments 

Our main discussion: 

As bitcoin becomes more mainstream, the attempts from the powers that be to control it will become more subtle. This week, NLW argues we got a preview of a new approach to trying to exert that control. He argues there is a new attempt to Balkanize Bitcoin and looks at:

• Iran banning crypto that wasn’t mined in the country
• Marathon mining an “OFAC-compliant” block
• Kevin O’Leary insisting on only owning bitcoin not mined in China 

-

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

-

NEAR.org - Infrastructure for innovation. NEAR is an open-source platform that accelerates the development of decentralized applications overcoming high fees and slow speeds with its fast, scalable, low-cost, and climate-neutral blockchain protocol. One transaction on NEAR consumes about 1300x less carbon than a similar transaction on other chains.

-

Click here to read the Genesis Q1 2021 Digital Asset Market report. To learn more about Genesis, click here. To learn more about Genesis Prime, their prime brokerage offering, click here. The information provided in this communication does not constitute investment advice. Please see this link for important disclosures.

-

Join thousands of newsmakers and influencers talking the future of money at Consensus 2021, a live virtual experience from CoinDesk. (Use discount code "BREAKDOWN" to save $25!) 

-

Image credit: Allexxandar/iStock/Getty Images Plus

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.