https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdDBnMjR3ZXA4M2Q2NHN3bTNrdHBlejJrZ2FnNTB5bXkwcWN4dWdlMiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/5J65lHzMJnHXHZ3lKw/giphy.gif Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow, which apparently means six more weeks of winter. This ritual has always made me question the wisdom of a species who look to rodents for meteorological predictions. What began as a PR stunt in a small town in Pennsylvania in 1887 has evolved into a ritual that I think a lot of people might just believe. ![Snow.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/ericvancewalton/23xKzZ3fdWzDq64kb4GDAJpzA1HX5axf1DkW2o4EFUUaZfsHWU6Wt4nXcWG8H5srhGMiY.jpg) *The view from my office window.* Here in Minnesota we’ve experienced our first *false-spring* and, speaking from experience, it’s not to be trusted. False spring is those first handful of days in February or March where the daytime highs break just above freezing, things start to thaw, the scents of the Earth return, and we begin to let our guards down. March is notorious for lots of snow here in the Upper Midwest. When it finally arrives, Spring in Minnesota is about the most glorious thing I’ve ever experienced. Realistically, it’s still another couple months away. After being covered in permafrost for four or five months trees and plants here literally explode with growth around mid-to-late May. ## Doomer BTC Narratives ## I don't know about you but I'm losing patience for the doom and gloom narratives surrounding the crypto markets lately. At this point all of the main stream media outlets finding any opportunity to kick Bitcoin while it's down is as predictable as it is laughable. https://x.com/bitmundfreud/status/2019771022925242452?s=46 The "Epstein is Satoshi" theory has to be the most preposterous one I've heard to date but plenty of people are believing and helping to perpetuate it. Admittedly many investors are on edge already because of how different this market cycle has been. Institutional investors have gained enough power to suppress prices but it's not in their best interest to do so forever. Sadly, I'm even seeing seasoned HODLRs losing faith. Those who fumble and make mistakes during this downturn will probably regret it for the remainder of their lives. Trillions of dollars are waiting on the sidelines until we have regulatory clarity. Eventually Bitcoin will do what it always has and skyrocket towards a new ATH and people will pile onto the bandwagon again at higher prices. I can't help but wonder if they ever tire of those wild emotional swings between doom and euphoria? But then I suppose drama can be a bit like a drug. ## A Glimpse Into the Next 36 Months ## https://youtu.be/BYXbuik3dgA?si=TVlE4_HURX_royv_ For anyone who's interested in a snapshot of what life will be like in the next three years I'd highly recommending investing a couple hours into this pod. Tesla and SpaceX are on the verge of solving the data center problem with a novel solution—building them off-planet. There will be no power constraints, no demands on the grid, and zero pollution on Earth. With xAI and SpaceX recently announcing a merger deal and the rumor that Tesla will join them soon, the future will be arriving sooner than we think. Starships won't be the only thing launching into orbit. All for now. Thanks so much for reading. --- [www.ericvancewalton.net](http://www.ericvancewalton.net) ![](https://i.imgur.com/aieouS5.png)

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