KYC doesn’t just put your data at risk; it puts people at risk. Hackers recently demanded $20 million in Bitcoin from Coinbase, threatening to leak sensitive customer data. While no passwords or private keys were accessed, the attackers obtained full names, addresses, contact details, partial Social Security and bank account numbers, and identity documents. This is the kind of data that can be weaponised for identity theft, fraud, or worse. This is exactly the kind of risk I raised on the compliance panel at the Financial Times Digital Assets Summit last week. While KYC and compliance frameworks are presented as security features, they often do the opposite. They create massive, centralised honeypots of personal data that can and do get breached, sold, or exploited. We’ve seen what can happen when that data gets into the wrong hands. Earlier this year, David Balland, the co-founder of Ledger, was kidnapped along with his wife. His captors cut off one of his fingers and sent it to a business associate to demand crypto ransom. He was rescued by French special forces, but the message was clear: real-world consequences are now linked to digital identity exposure. We need better solutions that don’t force users to sacrifice privacy and safety for access. Compliance shouldn’t come at the cost of security.

Bitcoin was born as freedom money. Decentralised, borderless, and immune to state control. But is that ideal being flipped on its head? Are a growing number of institutional players backed by governments inflating Bitcoin’s value not as a currency of the people but as a Strategic Reserve Asset to prop up the very system it was built to escape? Is the goal to create artificial demand for U.S. dollars and treasuries through stablecoins backed by U.S. debt? Stablecoins are lifelines for many, but what is the real cost? Will certain stablecoins become some of the largest holders of U.S. treasuries, indirectly funding U.S. policy while serving as the gateway to Bitcoin? By linking Bitcoin to stablecoins and those stablecoins to U.S. treasuries...has a pipeline been created to inflate Bitcoin, attract capital, prop up dollar demand, and sell more debt? Is it ironic that the asset created to resist fiat is now being used to save it? On the day Trump was inaugurated, I published this article. Centralisation is a threat. Are we paying close enough attention? https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/01/20/is-trumps-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-a-threat-to-freedom/

A rare, well-researched positive article on Bitcoin by the BBC and it’s a good one. It covers: - Real-world impact in rural Africa - Wasted renewable energy put to use - Economic boost via electricity access - Profitable and sustainable model by Gridless - Ambitious plans to expand clean energy powered by Bitcoin More of this, please BBC.

BBC News

Bitcoin in the bush - crypto mining brings power to rural areas

Bitcoin miners will go to remote locations to take advantage of cheap electricity.

UK regulators are driving bitcoin businesses away while other countries capitalise on the opportunity. The FCA’s blanket cryptoasset policy is crushing innovation, stifling growth, pushing companies offshore, and making the UK increasingly hostile to bitcoin businesses. Companies are scaling back or leaving the UK due to restrictive and unclear regulations. Meanwhile, the US, UAE, and Singapore are actively attracting bitcoin investment. Bitcoin is not a meme coin. It is the future of finance. If this continues, the UK will lose its financial edge and risk global irrelevance as investment moves elsewhere. My latest Forbes piece. @npub1musq...v5kr @npub1wl39...znlx https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/03/18/uk-financial-conduct-authority-drives-out-business-and-hurts-consumers/

The BBC’s FOI exemption is deeply troubling, shielding serious scandals from scrutiny. This was the first response I received from the BBC when I tried to hold them accountable for their misinformation and disinformation. I raised concerns about this exception with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and they said the BBC exemption stands; see their response below. The BBC has inflicted notable harm by consistently promoting incorrect and misleading narratives about Bitcoin. This perpetuates negative public perceptions and overshadows its potential as a transformative technology. By framing Bitcoin in a way that often lacks clarity or relies on outdated stereotypes, such as associating it primarily with criminal activity or environmental concerns, the BBC has skewed public understanding and stifled informed discourse. The BBC’s influence as a trusted news outlet amplifies the damage: its narratives have historically shaped opinions that deter adoption, investment, and innovation in a technology that could revolutionise financial inclusion, decentralised systems, and economic sovereignty. This is particularly harmful given Bitcoin’s surged value, reaching a record high of around $109,000, and when global leaders are increasingly recognising its strategic importance, such as the US establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. By obscuring Bitcoin's potential to empower individuals and challenge traditional financial systems, the BBC has delayed societal benefits and reinforced a status quo favouring established institutions over technological progress and freedom. People deserve transparency. The exemption should be scrapped, but then again, so should the BBC.

Orwell’s 1984 warned us about this. Surveillance is everywhere, privacy is being destroyed, and CBDCs are the final boss. The £2 coin quoting ‘Big Brother is Watching You’—is this a tribute, or are they laughing at us?

The Standard

George Orwell celebrated on new £2 coin to mark 75 years since 1984 author's death

The Royal Mint said the commemorative coin is being released to mark the 75th anniversary of the author’s death

🚨 IT'S OFFICIAL: The BBC cannot be held accountable for misinformation. No right to appeal, no transparency, and the regulator is just another dead end. For those following the case, here’s an analysis of the BBC’s Stage 2 response, highlighting systemic flaws in how they address inaccuracies: 1/ Conflict of Interest Not Addressed Flaw: BBC failed to disclose Alex de Vries' affiliation with the Dutch Central Bank, which has a vested interest in undermining Bitcoin. Impact: Readers lack full context to assess de Vries' credibility. 2/Reliance on a Discredited Source Flaw: Heavily relied on Alex de Vries' commentary, which has been debunked in peer-reviewed critiques. Impact: Treated de Vries' work as credible research, perpetuating misinformation. 3/ Failure to Independently Fact-Check Flaw: Cited similar reporting from other outlets, neglecting their responsibility as a public broadcaster to verify claims independently. Impact: Undermines the BBC’s editorial standards and trustworthiness. 4/ Freedom of Information Request - Refusal Flaw: Refused to disclose the fact-checking process under the FOI Act. Impact: Lacks transparency, raising concerns about their editorial process. 5/ Inadequate Responses to Evidence Flaw: Avoided addressing detailed rebuttals from the Digital Asset Research Institute (@dari_org). Key Issues Ignored: -Misrepresentation of Bitcoin’s energy metrics. -Failure to consider efficiencies from the Lightning Network. -Overreliance on outdated methodologies. -Exclusion of peer-reviewed studies on Bitcoin’s benefits. Impact: Demonstrates a lack of impartiality. 6/ Breach of Editorial Standards The BBC violated their own guidelines in three areas: Accuracy: Relied on discredited sources without fact-checking. Impartiality: Omitted conflicts of interest and rebuttals, creating bias. Transparency: Refused to disclose their fact-checking process. 7/ Avoidance of Accountability Flaw: Avoided engaging with evidence and arguments presented in Stage 1 & 2 complaints. Impact: Resistance to accountability makes it difficult to challenge inaccuracies. Summary of the Process Challenges The BBC’s reliance on flawed justifications, refusal to address rebuttals, and lack of transparency demonstrate systemic shortcomings: 1. Failed to retract or correct misleading content. 2. Ignored conflicts of interest. 3. Failed to adhere to accuracy, impartiality, and transparency standards. Full Stage 2 response attached. This process began on 5 December 2023, and over a year later, we are here with no resolution. This is a clear institutional failure undermining public trust in a taxpayer-funded organisation. The BBC must be held accountable for inaccuracies in their reporting. The BBC must be defunded. Full X thread and history here:

X (formerly Twitter)

Decentra Suze (@DecentraSuze) on X

🚨 IT'S OFFICIAL: The BBC cannot be held accountable for misinformation. No right to appeal, no transparency, and the regulator is just anothe...

The FATF Travel Rule, now applied to bitcoin, requires extensive KYC data sharing, causing serious concerns about privacy, financial freedom, and personal safety. My latest Forbes article featuring @L0la L33tz. https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/01/07/new-eu-rules-threaten-your-security--what-you-need-to-know/

Honoured to step into the role of CEO at Bitcoin Policy UK. With a refined mission, a vision for 2025, and a focus on advocating for good policies that will benefit both the UK and its citizens, I’m committed to driving positive change. Thank you for your support—we’re building a stronger future together. View quoted note →

Another soul-crushing response from the BBC. After a year, they continue to ignore all the key points raised: - Failed to disclose Alex DeVries' conflict of interest as a Dutch central banker. - Ignored that his research was debunked at the time of publication. - Provided no evidence of their own fact-checking. Instead, they cited other outlets who published the same misinformation. Stage 1 has officially concluded. This is the end of the road with BBC Complaints. I now have 20 days to escalate the complaint to the Executive Complaints Unit—on to Stage 2.

The new Crypto Asset Reporting Framework may signal ChokePoint 3.0, raising concerns over privacy, data security, reporting accuracy, and the potential for wrongful assessments due to incomplete or misinterpreted information. My latest in Forbes. #Bitcoin https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/11/24/bitcoin-privacy-at-risk-could-carf-regulations-signal-chokepoint-30/

Farmers and bitcoiners are fighting for sovereignty. The recent farmers' protest in London highlights how interconnected systems like farming, energy, and sound money can address these global challenges. My latest piece in Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/11/20/bitcoin-offers-a-solution-to-the-global-farming-and-economic-crisis/

Bitkey’s inheritance feature enables secure and user-friendly bitcoin transfers to beneficiaries, offering self-custody, ease of use, recovery, and simplicity. Launching January 2025. My latest piece in Forbes. #Bitcoin @jack https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/11/18/bitkeys-inheritance-feature-simplifies-self-custody-for-bitcoin-users/

Craig Wright, discredited as Satoshi in UK courts, launches a £911B legal battle against Bitcoin Core developers. My latest piece in Forbes featuring COPA & @hodlonaut #Bitcoin https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/10/18/craig-wright-who-is-not-satoshi-launches-bitcoin-core-legal-battle/

As the UK moves closer to a CBDC, growing concerns about state surveillance are leading to urgent calls for stronger safeguards to protect privacy and civil liberties. My latest piece in Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/10/13/uk-faces-privacy-challenges-ahead-of-2025-cbdc-pilot/

Day 1 in Amsterdam has been amazing! The Bull Stage is epic, and the lineup was fire. We covered everything from bitcoin mining to the M2 money supply. @Frank Corva Old Account @Aaron van Wirdum @Shinobi

In ongoing efforts to promote accuracy in media reporting on Bitcoin, I've partnered with the Digital Assets Research Institute (DARI) to draft a detailed rebuttal to a misleading BBC article published on 30 November 2023. The BBC’s formal response to my complaint showed a disappointing disregard for the substantial evidence and expert analysis provided. To understand the context behind their dismissive reply, you can read the full text here:

X (formerly Twitter)

Decentra Suze (@DecentraSuze) on X

I’ve received a response from the @BBC, and they’re doubling down—further proving how difficult it is to hold them accountable for their misi...

The article by Chris Vallance from November 2023 relied heavily on Alex de Vries-Gao commentary, which lacks a foundation in solid research.

Every Bitcoin payment 'uses a swimming pool of water'

As billions face water shortages, a new study warns of the cryptocurrency's thirst for water.

The lack of rigor in the BBC’s approach and their reliance on a single, debunked perspective—such as de Vries’s—compromises the integrity of their reporting and spreads misinformation.

X (formerly Twitter)

Decentra Suze (@DecentraSuze) on X

The BBC ignored credible research that highlights the fundamental flaws in de Vries' study, failing to fact-check before publishing. https://t.co/...

DARI’s experts crafted a rebuttal addressing each of the BBC's and de Vries’s points with precision. We're asking for a retraction of any claims based on de Vries’s debunked work, or at the very least, a public acknowledgment of our concerns.

Google Docs

BBC Complaints Rebutal Final.docx

The claim that "every Bitcoin payment uses a swimming pool of water" is not just scientifically inaccurate, but also misleading. These types of claims lack methodological soundness. It has been incredibly challenging to raise this concern, as the BBC has continuously tied me up in bureaucracy.

X (formerly Twitter)

Decentra Suze (@DecentraSuze) on X

The @BBC's reply was pretty poor, but there's something poetic about them going back to a discredited source so said source could defend their own ...

We’re urging the BBC to correct their narrative and provide a more balanced view of Bitcoin's environmental impact. Media accountability and accurate reporting should remain at the forefront of the Bitcoin conversation. https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/09/09/new-research-shows-bitcoin-mining-cuts-carbon-emissions/

Following up with BBC. Evidence previously overlooked has been resubmitted, and further research will be provided in collaboration with the Digital Assets Research Institute to push for a necessary retraction. I have requested that the case remain open. View quoted note →

I've had a response from the BBC, and they're doubling down, further proving how difficult it is to hold the BBC accountable for their misinformation. Here’s a short summary on their response: Flawed Metrics: The BBC relies on Alex de Vries' debunked "per transaction" metric to assess Bitcoin's environmental impact, despite Cambridge University disproving this methodology as early as 2018. The BBC ignored credible research that highlights the fundamental flaws in de Vries' study, failing to fact-check before publishing. https://x.com/DecentraSuze/status/1834671256299257876  Misleading Headline: The BBC admitted to using "payment" and "transaction" interchangeably in their headline, allegedly to make it more accessible to readers. However, this distinction is critical—confusing the two leads to gross overestimation of Bitcoin's water use by a factor of 1000x or more. This misrepresentation is not a small error; it's misinformation. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-67564205  Undisclosed Conflict of Interest: De Vries works for the Dutch Central Bank, which has a vested interest in discrediting Bitcoin, yet the BBC did not disclose this conflict. Central banks stand to lose from decentralised finance systems, making de Vries’ affiliation highly relevant and worth disclosing. The BBC dismissed this concern outright. Impartiality in Question: Despite claiming impartiality, the BBC consistently fails to provide balanced reporting on Bitcoin. This article is just one of many examples, amplifying flawed studies while ignoring counter-evidence and perpetuating a one-sided narrative.

X (formerly Twitter)

Alex Gladstein 🌋 ⚡ (@gladstein) on X

BBC coverage of Bitcoin since 2013, per @basedlayer Basically ever since Bitcoin grew out of its “interesting” infancy, the mainstream media ...

Broken Complaint Process: Beyond the article’s provable flaws, which have been dismissed by the editorial complaints team, I can’t even respond to the email I received. The BBC’s process forces me to deliver responses over the phone, making it more difficult to address these serious issues. Accountability feels impossible. https://x.com/DecentraSuze/status/1834669804923322843  This isn’t just about bitcoin. It’s about journalistic standards and the integrity of the information that the public relies on. We need to demand better fact-checking, transparency, and accountability from organisations like the BBC. The links they have provided in support of their response are provided below: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137268 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949790623000046 https://www.esma.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2024-07/ESMA75-453128700-1229_Final_Report_MiCA_CP2.pdf https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidelines 

If you haven't seen Dirty Coin The Movie, I recommend that you do. For those unfamiliar, it's a bitcoin mining documentary that investigates the often misunderstood industry.

DIRTY COIN

DIRTY COIN The Bitcoin Mining Documentary

The #1 most-screened Bitcoin mining documentary in the world. Go inside the surprising, interconnected world of Bitcoin mining and see what the hea...

The film dissects environmental debates, energy consumption myths, and the behind-the-scenes realities of mining operations. It is beautifully crafted and appeals to a wide audience, not just for its cinematic beauty, but for the compelling story it tells and the thought-provoking issues it addresses. I've seen it twice and I'll see it for a third time in November. There are screenings worldwide; here is a schedule if you want to see if there is a screening near you. 🎬 Dirty Coin Upcoming Screenings: 📍 Washington D.C. 🗓 Sept 23, 2024 🎟

Eventbrite

DIRTY COIN: THE BITCOIN MINING DOCUMENTARY in Washington D.C

What is Bitcoin mining and why will it consume all of the world's energy by 2020*?

📍 NYC 🗓 Sept 25, 2024 🎟

Eventbrite

DIRTY COIN: THE BITCOIN MINING DOCUMENTARY @PUBKEY

Join us for a Dirty Coin screening! Dive into Bitcoin mining’s real impact on global energy and be part of the conversation.

📍 Baxter 🗓 Sept 28, 2024 🎟

Eventbrite

The Mining Conference: Minnesota

Join us in Minnesota for a weekend of bitcoin mining industry insight, networking opportunities & expert panel discussions, Sept 27-29, 2024

📍 Montreal 🗓 Oct 02, 2024 🎟

Eventbrite

DIRTY COIN: THE BITCOIN MINING DOCUMENTARY in Montreal

Join us for a Dirty Coin screening! Dive into Bitcoin mining’s real impact on global energy and be part of the conversation.

📍 Amsterdam 🗓 Oct 08, 2024 🎟

'Dirty Coin' - Exclusive Screening Night with GMD · Luma

🚨 Get Ready, Amsterdam! 🚨 Green Mining DAO is kicking off BTC Amsterdam with a special evening you won't want to miss! Join us on October 8th...

📍 South Carolina 🗓 Oct 17, 2024 🎟

Eventbrite

Dirty Coin - The Bitcoin Mining Documentary

Dirty Coin is a documentary that challenges the conventional narrative surrounding Bitcoin mining.

It's so worth a watch, and it won the Best Movie award at the Bitcoin Film Festival in Warsaw earlier this year. https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/04/24/bitcoin-halving-party-unites-art-and-tech-at-warsaw-bitcoin-filmfest/ @ReCompute TV This is not a paid promotion, I’m just a huge fan of the film! 😁⚡️💕