The Balkanization of Bitcoin: The Next Attack on BTC Is About Mining Provenance

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

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