Tribe Vibe - The Epstein Edition
It has been quite the start to 2026. First with the partial release of more Epstein Files which are still be scoured by internet sleuths and included some disturbing information related to Adam Back and Bitcoin. This was followed by the start of yet another forever war, which despite promises of a peace deal, is now chugging on. Read on to find out more about the current state of play. Stay informed, stay ready.
Editorial Note
Welcome to another exciting week in Bitcoin! Coming up:
🎓 Bitcoin 101: Your weekly resource to learn about Bitcoin
🗞 News: Trending News in Bitcoin
👩💼 Women in Bitcoin: Where the Bitcoin “Femergy” is happening
📆 Upcoming Events: Find the best spots to learn, connect and build
🎧 & 🎥Vibe of the Week: Our content recommendations
🎓 Bitcoin 101: Why You Should Study Bitcoin
After you have watched this video, start studying 👉 HERE.
📈 Trending News
1. The controversy over who maintains Bitcoin
The Scoop🕵️♂️: Bitcoin Core is the main software that runs the Bitcoin network. “Core developers” are the programmers who maintain this software, proposing changes to improve its security, speed, and privacy. Because Bitcoin is decentralised, these developers don’t have absolute power, instead they suggest updates that individual users (node runners) must choose to download and run. If a group of developers tried to force a change that users didn’t like, the users could simply refuse the update, making the developers’ influence more like “informal leadership” than direct control.
However, because these developers decide which technical improvements are prioritised and “vetted” for the community, they act as a vital filter for the ecosystem’s evolution. A debate that has been raging for over a year now, centres on whether the social circles and funding behind these developers are becoming too exclusive and ideologically captured. While anyone can technically contribute code, some argue that a small network of institutions now controls who gets the funding and mentorship needed to work on Bitcoin full-time, potentially steering the technology toward corporate or regulatory interests rather than its original “cypherpunk” roots of total independence. This was outlined in detail in a recent article by Hodlanaut HERE.
Why You Should Care🚨: As alternatives to Bitcoin Core software, such as Knots, exist, node runners do have alternatives. Depending on your perspective with regards to the above argument, you may choose to run Knots instead.
What does this mean for bitcoin?✨: A decentralized asset that is not controlled by the parasite class, has become ever more critical. Plus, the instability in the middle east means its going cheap.
BIP-110 - a new BIP or Bitcoin Improvement Proposal has been put forward to address some of these issues. We’ll get into that next week…
Where to Acquire Bitcoin:
Visit a Bitcoin Well ATM to purchase “private bitcoin” and check out their online services HERE (Access Tribe is an affiliate of The Bitcoin Well and may receive compensation for recommending their services).
2. The Epstein Files: What We Really Know About Bitcoin and the Global Power Grid
The Scoop🕵️♂️: The latest batch of Epstein files revealed some information around Epstein’s financial support of bitcoin developers, his ties to Blockstream (a company run by bitcoin legend Adam Back) and Epstein’s attempts to control the bitcoin network. Over the last few weeks there has been much analysis of this topic. In our most recent article we zoom out.
Why You Should Care🚨: Can the bitcoin network in fact be controlled? Should we put our trust in the integrity of the players in this space? What attempts should we make, if any, to mitigate the ability of bad actors to control the network? All of these questions matter profoundly if we want bitcoin to remain uncensorable and decentralized.
What does this mean for bitcoin?✨: The good news is that bitcoin survived these nefarious attempts to hijack the network. The bad news is that its still unclear to what extent the players involved were aware of what they were doing.
📚 Read our full post HERE.
3. What’s happening on Jane Street?
The Scoop🕵️♂️: Jane Street is a secretive $20 billion trading firm that's suddenly under fire from multiple directions. Indian regulators have accused them of manipulating the Bank Nifty index through a "pump and dump" strategy, allegedly profiting by around $4.4 billion. Meanwhile, a bankruptcy lawsuit claims they had insider knowledge of Terra's collapse in 2022, with evidence suggesting they traded on confidential information and even helped trigger the depegging of UST. The firm's connection to FTX (through former employees and buying Anthropic shares) has only added to the suspicion around their practices.
Why You Should Care🚨: This matters because Jane Street isn't just some obscure trading firm - they handle about 10% of all US equity trades and 14% of ETF trading volume. More importantly, they're one of the key "Authorized Participants" for Bitcoin ETFs like BlackRock's IBIT. These APs have special regulatory exemptions that allow them to sell ETF shares without actually owning the underlying Bitcoin first, creating what experts call a "grey window" where they can potentially influence prices while hedging their positions through futures or private OTC trades. The system was designed for orderly market-making, but it creates structural advantages that could be exploited.
What does this mean for bitcoin?✨: The Bitcoin market may be experiencing structural price suppression through these ETF mechanics. Traders noticed a pattern where Bitcoin would consistently drop 2-3% at 10 AM Eastern when US markets opened, a pattern that mysteriously disappeared right after the Terra lawsuit was filed, followed by a $5,000 price surge. While correlation isn't causation, this suggests that ETF plumbing might be delaying genuine price discovery. For long-term holders, this is actually bullish. If demand is real and structural compression eventually breaks, the move to the upside could be violent. But it also highlights why self-custody ("not your keys, not your coins") matters more than ever, as each intermediary layer between you and the actual asset introduces potential manipulation points.
📚 Read the outstanding full analysis by former hedge fund trader James Lavish HERE.
👩💼 Women in Bitcoin
If you missed the recent Women in Bitcoin Summit, you can watch the session replays HERE 🔥
📆 Upcoming Events
✨ OPNEXT 📅 April 15-16, 2026 - New York City, NY, USA 🎟️ Get your tickets HERE!
✨ Bitchill s03 📅 April 16-25, 2026 - Roatan, Honduras 🎟️ Book your spot HERE!
✨ Muslim Bitcoin Summit 📅 April 17-19, 2026 - Dallas, TX, USA 🎟️ Join the summit HERE!
Bitcoin Las Vegas 2026!
In 2026, Bitcoin takes over Las Vegas, a city built on bold ideas and relentless energy. From open-source developers and miners to founders, institutions, and everyday Bitcoiners, Bitcoin 2026 unites the people building the future on the world’s most decentralized and resilient monetary network. This isn’t just a conference—it’s a mission-driven summit fueled by conviction, innovation, and a belief in a better system.
🎟️ Get your tickets HERE.
The hottest of hot penthouse parties for investors:
💫 Penthouse party for values-driven investors and founders at Bitcoin 2026 in Las Vegas
📆 April 28th
🖊 Read blog post: https://tinyurl.com/bfmurmn7
🎟️ Follow the fairy trail: https://app.youform.com/forms/4hvyl2zy
📚 Book Club - Every Voice Matters with Raj Hayer
Join us this June for a special 3-part book club series featuring bitcoiner, TED speaker and leadership expert Raj Hayer as we explore her new book, Every Voice Matters.
In a world of centralized noise and systemic distraction, Raj’s book offers a powerful framework for ‘Social Leadership’ that mirrors the core values of the Bitcoin community. While the book focuses on inclusive innovation, it has many parallels to Bitcoin:
Decentralized Influence: Just as Bitcoin removes the need for a central authority, Raj teaches that influence isn’t reserved for ‘senior leaders’ at the top, it’s built from the ground up through the consistent actions of every individual ‘node’ in an organization.
Proof of Work: Raj’s blueprint isn’t a ‘feel-good slogan’; it’s a manual for taking responsibility and showing up consistently showing ‘proof of work’ to earn influence and trust.
Trust as Currency: In Chapter 8, Raj identifies trust as our ‘most valuable currency.’ We’ll discuss how the transparency and integrity she advocates for in leadership are the same principles that make Bitcoin the world’s most trusted, immutable ledger.
📫 Keep an eye on your mailbox for book club streaming dates.
🛍️ Raj’s book goes on sale April 16th on Amazon! Pre-order your copy HERE today.
🎧 🎥📚 Vibe of the Week
Have you ever wondered how you can live on a bitcoin standard? Living Fiat Free with Aaron Day the Corbett Report HERE.
Meme of the Week - Melania’s Statement
Bitcoin is for everyone…even Melania, who is a bitcoiner…amongst other things.
