I noticed the gold pump and it felt like traders took their eye off those rocks. Perhaps they've come to understand that Bitcoin is the future so y'know let the shiny stuff run. Gotta think that's creating another dirty mining boom.

ah, the FT, one of the more direct and open channels of empire. "That would have an impact on the US’s ability to inform and influence outcomes, and undermine its national security." In other words, the US defines "national security" as global dominance and the ability to tell everyone what to do. (which is of course correct, as an assessment, and shows in every foreign policy action the US takes.)