@ 266815e0:6cd408a5

noStrudel

Its been over four months since I released v0.42.0 of noStrudel but I haven't forgot about it, I've just been busy refactoring the code-base.

The app is well past its 2yr birthday and a lot of the code is really messy and kind of hacky. so my focus in the past few months has been refactoring and moving a lot of it out into the applesauce packages so it can be tested.

The biggest changes have been switching to use rx-nostr for all relay connections and using rxjs and applesauce for event management and timelines. In total ~22k lines of code have been changed since the last release.

I'm hoping it wont take me much longer to get a stable release for v0.43.0. In the meantime if you want to test out the new changes you can find them on the nsite deployment.

nsite deplyment: nostrudel.nsite.lol/ Github repo: github.com/hzrd149/nostrudel

Applesauce

I've been making great progress on the applesauce libraries that are the core of onStrudel. Since January I've released v0.11.0 and v0.12.0.

In the past month I've been working towards a v1 release with a better relay connection package applesauce-relay and pre-built actions for clients to easily implement common things like follow/unfollow and mute/unmute. applesauce-actions

Docs website: hzrd149.github.io/applesauce/ Github repo: https://github.com/hzrd149/applesauce

Blossom

Spec changes: - Merged PR #56 from kehiy for BUD-09 ( blob reports ) - Merged PR #60 from Kieran to update BUD-8 to use the standard NIP-94 tags array. - Merged PR #38 to make the file extension mandatory in the url field of the returned blob descriptor. - Merged PR #54 changing the authorization type for the /media endpoint to media instead of upload. This fixes an issue where the server could mirror the original blob without the users consent.

Besides the changes to the blossom spec itself I started working on a small cli tool to help test and debug new blossom server implementations. The goal is to have a set of upload and download tests that can be run against a server to test if it adheres to the specifications. It can also be used output debug info and show recommended headers to add to the http responses.

If you have nodejs installed you can try it out by running sh npx blossom-audit audit <server-url> [image|bitcoin|gif|path/to/file.jpeg]

Github repo: github.com/hzrd149/blossom-audit

Other projects

Wifistr

While participating in SEC-04 I built a small app for sharing the locations and passwords of wifi networks. Its far from complete, but its usable and serves as an example of building an app with SolidJS and applesauce.

Live version: hzrd149.github.io/wifistr/ nsite version: here Github repo: github.com/hzrd149/wifistr

nsite-manager

I've been slowly continuing work on nsite-manager, mostly just to allow myself to debug various nsites and make sure nsite.lol is still working correctly.

Github repo: github.com/hzrd149/nsite-manager

nsite-gateway

I finally got around to making some much needed bug fixes and improvements to nsite-gateway ( the server behind nsite.lol ) and released a stable 1.0.0 version.

My hope is that its stable enough now to allow other users to start hosting their own instances of it.

Github repo: github.com/hzrd149/nsite-gateway

morning-glory

As part of my cashu PR for NUT-23 ( HTTP 402 Payment required ) I built a blossom server that only accepts cashu payments for uploads and stores blobs for 24h before deleting them.

Github repo: github.com/hzrd149/morning-glory

bakery

I've been toying with the idea of building a backend-first nostr client that would download events while I'm not at my computer and send me notifications about my DMs.

I made some progress on it in the last months but its far from complete or usable. Hopefully ill get some time in the next few months to create a working alpha version for myself and others to install on Umbrel and Start9

Github repo: github.com/hzrd149/bakery

@ 40b9c85f:5e61b451

Introduction

Data Vending Machines (DVMs) have emerged as a crucial component of the Nostr ecosystem, offering specialized computational services to clients across the network. As defined in NIP-90, DVMs operate on an apparently simple principle: "data in, data out." They provide a marketplace for data processing where users request specific jobs (like text translation, content recommendation, or AI text generation)

While DVMs have gained significant traction, the current specification faces challenges that hinder widespread adoption and consistent implementation. This article explores some ideas on how we can apply the reflection pattern, a well established approach in RPC systems, to address these challenges and improve the DVM ecosystem's clarity, consistency, and usability.

The Current State of DVMs: Challenges and Limitations

The NIP-90 specification provides a broad framework for DVMs, but this flexibility has led to several issues:

1. Inconsistent Implementation

As noted by hzrd149 in "DVMs were a mistake" every DVM implementation tends to expect inputs in slightly different formats, even while ostensibly following the same specification. For example, a translation request DVM might expect an event ID in one particular format, while an LLM service could expect a "prompt" input that's not even specified in NIP-90.

2. Fragmented Specifications

The DVM specification reserves a range of event kinds (5000-6000), each meant for different types of computational jobs. While creating sub-specifications for each job type is being explored as a possible solution for clarity, in a decentralized and permissionless landscape like Nostr, relying solely on specification enforcement won't be effective for creating a healthy ecosystem. A more comprehensible approach is needed that works with, rather than against, the open nature of the protocol.

3. Ambiguous API Interfaces

There's no standardized way for clients to discover what parameters a specific DVM accepts, which are required versus optional, or what output format to expect. This creates uncertainty and forces developers to rely on documentation outside the protocol itself, if such documentation exists at all.

The Reflection Pattern: A Solution from RPC Systems

The reflection pattern in RPC systems offers a compelling solution to many of these challenges. At its core, reflection enables servers to provide metadata about their available services, methods, and data types at runtime, allowing clients to dynamically discover and interact with the server's API.

In established RPC frameworks like gRPC, reflection serves as a self-describing mechanism where services expose their interface definitions and requirements. In MCP reflection is used to expose the capabilities of the server, such as tools, resources, and prompts. Clients can learn about available capabilities without prior knowledge, and systems can adapt to changes without requiring rebuilds or redeployments. This standardized introspection creates a unified way to query service metadata, making tools like grpcurl possible without requiring precompiled stubs.

How Reflection Could Transform the DVM Specification

By incorporating reflection principles into the DVM specification, we could create a more coherent and predictable ecosystem. DVMs already implement some sort of reflection through the use of 'nip90params', which allow clients to discover some parameters, constraints, and features of the DVMs, such as whether they accept encryption, nutzaps, etc. However, this approach could be expanded to provide more comprehensive self-description capabilities.

1. Defined Lifecycle Phases

Similar to the Model Context Protocol (MCP), DVMs could benefit from a clear lifecycle consisting of an initialization phase and an operation phase. During initialization, the client and DVM would negotiate capabilities and exchange metadata, with the DVM providing a JSON schema containing its input requirements. nip-89 (or other) announcements can be used to bootstrap the discovery and negotiation process by providing the input schema directly. Then, during the operation phase, the client would interact with the DVM according to the negotiated schema and parameters.

2. Schema-Based Interactions

Rather than relying on rigid specifications for each job type, DVMs could self-advertise their schemas. This would allow clients to understand which parameters are required versus optional, what type validation should occur for inputs, what output formats to expect, and what payment flows are supported. By internalizing the input schema of the DVMs they wish to consume, clients gain clarity on how to interact effectively.

3. Capability Negotiation

Capability negotiation would enable DVMs to advertise their supported features, such as encryption methods, payment options, or specialized functionalities. This would allow clients to adjust their interaction approach based on the specific capabilities of each DVM they encounter.

Implementation Approach

While building DVMCP, I realized that the RPC reflection pattern used there could be beneficial for constructing DVMs in general. Since DVMs already follow an RPC style for their operation, and reflection is a natural extension of this approach, it could significantly enhance and clarify the DVM specification.

A reflection enhanced DVM protocol could work as follows: 1. Discovery: Clients discover DVMs through existing NIP-89 application handlers, input schemas could also be advertised in nip-89 announcements, making the second step unnecessary. 2. Schema Request: Clients request the DVM's input schema for the specific job type they're interested in 3. Validation: Clients validate their request against the provided schema before submission 4. Operation: The job proceeds through the standard NIP-90 flow, but with clearer expectations on both sides

Parallels with Other Protocols

This approach has proven successful in other contexts. The Model Context Protocol (MCP) implements a similar lifecycle with capability negotiation during initialization, allowing any client to communicate with any server as long as they adhere to the base protocol. MCP and DVM protocols share fundamental similarities, both aim to expose and consume computational resources through a JSON-RPC-like interface, albeit with specific differences.

gRPC's reflection service similarly allows clients to discover service definitions at runtime, enabling generic tools to work with any gRPC service without prior knowledge. In the REST API world, OpenAPI/Swagger specifications document interfaces in a way that makes them discoverable and testable.

DVMs would benefit from adopting these patterns while maintaining the decentralized, permissionless nature of Nostr.

Conclusion

I am not attempting to rewrite the DVM specification; rather, explore some ideas that could help the ecosystem improve incrementally, reducing fragmentation and making the ecosystem more comprehensible. By allowing DVMs to self describe their interfaces, we could maintain the flexibility that makes Nostr powerful while providing the structure needed for interoperability.

For developers building DVM clients or libraries, this approach would simplify consumption by providing clear expectations about inputs and outputs. For DVM operators, it would establish a standard way to communicate their service's requirements without relying on external documentation.

I am currently developing DVMCP following these patterns. Of course, DVMs and MCP servers have different details; MCP includes capabilities such as tools, resources, and prompts on the server side, as well as 'roots' and 'sampling' on the client side, creating a bidirectional way to consume capabilities. In contrast, DVMs typically function similarly to MCP tools, where you call a DVM with an input and receive an output, with each job type representing a different categorization of the work performed.

Without further ado, I hope this article has provided some insight into the potential benefits of applying the reflection pattern to the DVM specification.

@ e4950c93:1b99eccd

Heureu-x-se d’avoir trouvé une information utile sur ce site ?

Soutenez le projet en faisant un don pour le faire vivre et remercier les contribut-eur-rice-s.

---

En bitcoin

• Sur la blockchain : bc1qkm8me8l9563wvsl9sklzt4hdcuny3tlejznj7d

• Réseau lightning : ⚡️origin-nature@coinos.io Vous pouvez aussi nous soutenir de manière récurrente 👉 Créer un paiement Lightning récurrent

---

En euros, dollars, ou toute autre monnaie prise en charge

• Par virement, IBAN : FR76 2823 3000 0144 3759 8717 669

• Vous pouvez aussi nous soutenir de manière récurrente 👉 Faire une promesse sur LiberaPay

---

Contactez-nous si vous souhaitez faire un don avec toute autre cryptomonnaie.

---

💡 Un modèle de partage de la valeur

La moitié des dons est redistribuée aux contribut-eur-rice-s qui créent la valeur du site, pour expérimenter un modèle de partage de revenus sur Internet — un modèle qui respecte vos données et ne cherche pas à capter votre attention. L’autre moitié permet de couvrir les frais de fonctionnement du site.

---

Cet article est publié sur origine-nature.com 🌐 See this article in English

@ 8671a6e5:f88194d1

For whoever has, will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

Matthew 25:29, The Parable of the Talents (New Testament)For whoever has, will be given more,\ and they will have an abundance.\ Whoever does not have, even what\ they have will be taken from them.\ \ Matthew 25:29,\ The Parable of the Talents (New Testament)

How the Pump-my-bags mentality slows Bitcoin adoption

The parable of “thy Bitcoins” (loosely based on Matthew 25:29)

A man, embarking on a journey, entrusted his wealth to his servants. To one he gave five Bitcoin, to another two Bitcoin, and to another one Bitcoin, each according to his ability. Then he departed.

The servant with five Bitcoin buried his master’s wealth, dreaming of its rising price. The servant with two Bitcoin hid his, guarding its value. But the servant with one Bitcoin acted with vision. He spent 0.5 Bitcoin to unite Bitcoiners, teaching them to use the network and building tools to expand its reach. His efforts grew Bitcoin’s power, though his investment left him with only 0.5 Bitcoin.

Years later, the master returned to settle accounts. The servant with five Bitcoin said, “Master, you gave me five Bitcoin. I buried them, and their price has soared. Here is yours.”

The master replied, “Faithless servant! My wealth was meant to sow freedom. You kept your Bitcoin but buried your potential to strengthen its network. Your wealth is great, but your impact is none!”

The servant with two Bitcoin said, “Master, you gave me two Bitcoin. I hid them, and their value has risen. Here is yours.”

The master replied, “You, too, have been idle! You clung to wealth but failed to spread Bitcoin’s truth. Your Bitcoin endures, but your reach is empty!”

Then the servant with one Bitcoin stepped forward. “Master, you gave me one Bitcoin. I spent 0.5 Bitcoin to teach and build with Bitcoiners. My call inspired many to join the network, though I have only 0.5 Bitcoin left.”

The master said, “Well done, faithful servant! You sparked a movement that grew my network, enriching lives. Though your stack is small, your vision is vast. Share my joy!”

When many use their gifts to build Bitcoin’s future, their sacrifices grow the network and enrich lives. Those who “bury” their Bitcoin and do nothing else keep wealth but miss the greater reward of a thriving in a Bitcoin world.

This parable reflects a timeless truth: between playing it safe and building, resides the choice to take risk. Bitcoin’s power lies not in hoarding wealth (although it’s part of it), but mainly in using it to build a freer world. To free people from their confines. Yet a mentality has taken hold — one that runs counter to that spirit.

PMB betrays the Bitcoin ethos

“Pump my bags” (PMB) stems from the altcoin world, where scammers pump pre-mined coins to dump on naive buyers. In Bitcoin, PMB isn’t about dumping but about hoarding—stacking sats without lifting a finger. These Bitcoiners, from small holders to whales, sit back, eyeing fiat profits, not Bitcoin’s mission. They’re not so different from altcoin grifters. Both chase profit, not glory. They dream of fiat-richness and crappy real estate in Portugal or Chile — not a Bitcoin standard. One holds hard money by chance, the other a fad coin. Neither moves the world forward.

In Bitcoin, the pump-my-bags mindset is more about laziness; everyone looking out for themselves, stacking without ever lifting a finger. There’s a big difference in the way an altcoin promotor would operate and market yet another proof-of-stake pre-mined trashcoin, and how PMB bitcoiners hoard and wait.

They’re much alike however. The belief level might be slightly different, and not everyone has the same ability.

I’ve been in Bitcoin’s trenches since its cypherpunk days, when it was a rebellion against fiat’s centralized control. Bitcoin is a race against the totalitarian fiat system’s grip. Early adopters saw it as a tool to dismantle gatekeepers and empower individuals. But PMB has turned Bitcoin into a get-rich scheme, abandoning the collective effort needed to overthrow fiat’s centuries-long cycles.

Trust is a currency’s core. Hoarding Bitcoin shows trust in its future value, but it’s a shallow trust that seals it away from the world. Real trust comes from admiring Bitcoin’s math, building businesses around it, or spreading its use. PMB Bitcoiners sit on their stacks, expecting others to build trust for them. Newcomers see branding, ego, and grifters, not the low-tech prosperity Bitcoin can offer. PMB Bitcoiners live without spending a sat, happy to hodl. Fine, but they’re furniture in fiat’s ruins, not builders of Bitcoin’s future.

Hoarding hollow victories Hoarding works for those chasing fiat wealth. Bitcoin is even there for them. The lazy, the non-believers, the ones that sold very early, the ones that just started.

By 2021, 75% of Bitcoin sat dormant, driving scarcity and prices up. But it strangles transactions, weakening Bitcoin as a living economy. Reddit calls hoarding “Bitcoin’s most dangerous problem,” choking adoption for profit. Pioneers like Roger Ver built tech companies (where you could buy electronics for bitcoin), Mark Karpelès ran an exchange (Mt. Gox) and Charlie Shrem processed 30% of Bitcoin transactions in 2013. They poured stacks into adoption, people like them (even people you’ve never heard of) more than not, went broke doing the building while hoarders sat back. The irony stings: Bitcoin’s founders are often poorer than PMB hodlers who buried their talents and just sat there passively. Over the years, the critique from these sideline people became more prevalent. They show up here and there, to read the room. But that’s all they do.

The last couple of years, they even became more vocal with social media posts. Everything needs to be perfect, high-quality, not made by them, not funded by them, for free, without ads, and with no effort whatsoever, unless it’s NOT pumping their bags, then it needs to be burned down as fast as possible.

Today’s PMB Bitcoiners want the rewards without the risk. They stack sats, demand perfect content made by others for free, and cheer short-term price pumps. But when asked to build, code, or fund anything real, they disappear. At this point, such Bitcoiners have as much spine as a pack of Frankfurter sausages. This behavior has hollowed out Bitcoin’s activist core.

Activism’s disappointment

Bitcoin’s activist roots—cypherpunks coding, evangelists spreading the word—have been replaced by influencers and silent PMB conference-goers who say nothing but “I hold Bitcoin.” Centralized exchanges like Binance and Coinbase handle 70% of trades by 2025, mocking our decentralized vision. Custodial wallets proliferate as users hand over keys. The Lightning Network has 23,000+ nodes, and privacy tech like CoinJoin exists, yet adoption lags. Regulation creeps in—the U.S. Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2023 and Europe’s MiCa laws threaten KYC on every wallet. Our failure to advance faster gives governments leverage. Our failure would be their victory. Their cycles endlessly repeated.

Activism is a shadow of its potential. The Human Rights Foundation pushes Bitcoin for dissidents, but it’s a drop in the bucket. We could replace supply chains, build Bitcoin-only companies, or claim territories, yet we can’t even convince bars to accept

Bitcoin. We’re distracted by laser-eye memes and altcoin hopium, not building at farmer’s markets, festivals, or local scenes. PMB Bitcoiners demand perfection—free, ad-free, high-quality content—while contributing nothing.

The best way to shut them up, is asking them to do something. ”I would like to see a live counter on that page, so I can see what customers got new products” ”Why don’t YOU write code?” … and they’re gone.

”I would change a few items in your presentation man, it was good, but I would change the diagram on page 7” ”The presentation is open source and online, open for contributions. Do you want to give the presentation next time?” ”… “ and they’re gone.

”We need to have a network of these antennas to communicate with each other and send sats” ”I’ve ordered a few devices like that.. want to help out and search for new network participants?” ” … “ They’re off to some other thing, that’s more entertaining.

If you don’t understand you’re in a very unique fork in the road, a historic shift in society, much so that you’re more busy with picking the right shoes, car, phone, instead of pushing things in the right direction. And guess what? Usually these two lifestyles can even be combines. Knights in old England could fight and defend their king, while still having a decent meal and participate in festivities. These knight (compared to some bitcoiners) didn’t sit back at a fancy dinner and told the others: “yeah man, you should totally put on a harness, get a sword made and fight,… here I’ll give you a carrot for your horse.” To disappear into their castles waiting for the fight to be over a few months later. No, they put on the harness themselves, and ordered a sword to be made, because they knew their own future and that of their next of kin was at stake.

Hardly any of them show you that Bitcoin can be fairly simple and even low-tech solutions for achieving remedies for the world’s biggest problems (having individuals have real ownership for example). It can include some genuine building of prosperity and belief in one’s own talents and skills. You mostly don’t need middlemen. They buy stuff they don’t need, to feel like they’re participants.

And there’s so, enormously much work to be done.

On the other hand. Some bitcoiners can live their whole life without spending any considerable amount of bitcoin, and be perfectly happy. They mind as well could have had no bitcoin at all, but changed their mindset towards a lot of things in life. That’s cool, I know bitcoiners that don’t have any bitcoin anymore. They still “get it” though. Everyone’s life is different. These people are really cool, and they’re usually the silent builders as well. They know.

And yet, people will say they’ve “missed out”. They surely missed out on buying a lot of nice “stuff” … maybe. There are always new luxury items for sale in the burning ruins of fiat. There are always people that want to temporarily like or love you (long time) for fiat, as well as for bitcoin. You’re still an empty shell if your do. Just like the fiat slaves. A crypto bro will always stay the same sell out, even if he holds bitcoin by any chance.

You know why? Because bitcoiners don’t think like “they” do. The fiat masters that screwed this world up, think and work over multi generations. (Remember that for later, in piece twelve of this series.)

The only path forward

Solo heroics can’t beat the market or drive adoption anymore. Collective action is key. The Lightning Network grows from thousands of small nodes for example. Bitcoin Core thrives on shared grit. Profit isn’t sportcars — it’s a thriving network freeing people. If 10,000 people spend 0.05 BTC to fund wallets, educate merchants or build tools, we’d see more users and transactions. Adoption drives demand. Sacrifice now, impact later. Don’t work for PMB orders — they’re fiat victims, not Bitcoin builders.

Act together, thrive together

To kill PMB, rediscover your potential, even if it costs you:

Educate wide: Teach Bitcoin’s truth—how it works, why it matters. Every convert strengthens us.

Build together: Run nodes, fund Lightning hubs, support devs. Small contributions add up.

Use Bitcoin: Spend it, gift it, make it move. Transactions are the network’s heartbeat.

Value the mission: Chase freedom, not fiat. Your legacy is impact, not your stack.

A call to build The parable of Bitcoin is clear: hoard and get rich, but leave nothing behind; act together, sacrifice wealth, and build a thriving Bitcoin world. Hoarding risks a deflationary spiral while Wall Street grabs another 100,000 BTC every few weeks and sits on it for other fund managers to buy the stake (pun intended).

PMB Bitcoiners will cash out, thinking they’re smart, trading our future for fiat luxury. Bitcoin’s value lies in trust, scarcity, and a network grown by those who see beyond their wallets. Bury your Bitcoin or build with it.

If someone slyly nudges you to pump their bags, call them faithless leeches who ignore the call for a better world. They’re quiet, polite, and vanish when it’s time to fund or build. They tally fiat gains while you grind through life’s rot. They sling insults if you educate, risk, or create. They’re all take, no give — enemies, even if they hold Bitcoin.

Bitcoiners route around problems. Certainly if that problem is other bitcoiners. Because we know how they think, we know their buried talents, we know why they do it. It’s in our DNA to know. They don’t know why we keep building however, the worse of them don’t understand.

Bitcoin’s value isn’t in scarcity alone — it’s in the combination of trust, scarcity and the network, grown by those who see beyond their wallets and small gains.

Whether you’ve got 0.01 BTC or 10,000 BTC, your choice matters. Will you bury your Bitcoin, or build with it? I can hope we choose the latter.

If someone, directly or slyly, nudges you to pump their bags, call them out as faithless servants who wouldn’t even hear the calling of a better world. These types are often quiet, polite, and ask few questions, but when it’s time to step up, they vanish — nowhere to be found for funding, working, or doing anything real, big or small. They’re obsessed with “pump my bags,” tallying their fiat gains while you grind, sweat, and ache through life’s rotten misery. Usually they’re well off, because fiat mentality breeds more fiat.

They won’t lift you up or support you, because they’re all about the “take” and take and take more, giving nice sounding incentives to keep you pumping and grinding. They smell work, but never participate. They’re lovely and nice as long as you go along and pump.

Pump-My-Bags bitcoiners are temporary custodians, financial Frankfurter sausages hunting for a bun to flop into. We have the mustard. We know how to make it, package it and pour it over them. We’re the preservers of hard money. We build, think and try.

They get eaten. They’re fiat-born and when the real builders rise (they’re already a few years old), history won’t remember these people’s stacks and irrelevant comments — only our sacrifices.

by: AVB

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Operation

This operational framework delineates a methodologically sound, open-source paradigm for the self-custody of Bitcoin, prominently utilizing Electrum, in conjunction with VeraCrypt-encrypted USB drives designed to effectively emulate the functionality of a cold storage hardware wallet.

The primary aim of this initiative is to empower individual users by providing a mechanism that is economically viable, resistant to coercive pressures, and entirely verifiable. This is achieved by harnessing the capabilities inherent in open-source software and adhering to stringent cryptographic protocols, thereby ensuring an uncompromising stance on Bitcoin sovereignty.

The proposed methodology signifies a substantial advancement over commercially available hardware wallets, as it facilitates the creation of a do-it-yourself air-gapped environment that not only bolsters resilience and privacy but also affirms the principles of decentralization intrinsic to the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

1. The Need For Trustless, Private, and Secure Storage

With Bitcoin adoption increasing globally, the need for trustless, private, and secure storage is critical. While hardware wallets like Trezor and Ledger offer some protection, they introduce proprietary code, closed ecosystems, and third-party risk. This Idea explores an alternative: using Electrum Wallet within an encrypted VeraCrypt volume on a USB flash drive, air-gapped via Tails OS or offline Linux systems.

---

2. Architecture of the DIY Hardware Wallet

2.1 Core Components

• Electrum Wallet (SegWit, offline mode)
• USB flash drive (≥ 8 GB)
• VeraCrypt encryption software
• Optional: Tails OS bootable environment

2.2 Drive Setup

• Format the USB drive and install VeraCrypt volumes.
• Choose AES + SHA-512 encryption for robust protection.
• Use FAT32 for wallet compatibility with Electrum (under 4GB).
• Enable Hidden Volume for plausible deniability under coercion.

---

3. Creating the Encrypted Environment

3.1 Initial Setup

• Download VeraCrypt from the official site; verify GPG signatures.
• Encrypt the flash drive and store a plain Electrum AppImage inside.
• Add a hidden encrypted volume with the wallet seed, encrypted QR backups, and optionally, a decoy wallet.

3.2 Mounting Workflow

• Always mount the VeraCrypt volume on an air-gapped computer, ideally booted into Tails OS.
• Never connect the encrypted USB to an internet-enabled system.

---

4. Air-Gapped Wallet Operations

4.1 Wallet Creation (Offline)

• Generate a new Electrum SegWit wallet inside the mounted VeraCrypt volume.
• Record the seed phrase on paper, or store it in a second hidden volume.
• Export xpub (public key) for use with online watch-only wallets.

4.2 Receiving Bitcoin

• Use watch-only Electrum wallet with the exported xpub on an online system.
• Generate receiving addresses without exposing private keys.

4.3 Sending Bitcoin

• Create unsigned transactions (PSBT) in the watch-only wallet.
• Transfer them via QR code or USB sneakernet to the air-gapped wallet.
• Sign offline using Electrum, then return the signed transaction to the online device for broadcast.

---

5. OpSec Best Practices

5.1 Physical and Logical Separation

• Use a dedicated machine or a clean Tails OS session every time.
• Keep the USB drive hidden and disconnected unless in use.
• Always dismount the VeraCrypt volume after operations.

5.2 Seed Phrase Security

• Never type the seed on an online machine.
• Consider splitting the seed using Shamir's Secret Sharing or metal backup plates.

5.3 Coercion Resilience

• Use VeraCrypt’s hidden volume feature to store real wallet data.
• Maintain a decoy wallet in the outer volume with nominal funds.
• Practice your recovery and access process until second nature.

---

6. Tradeoffs vs. Commercial Wallets

| Feature | DIY Electrum + VeraCrypt | Ledger/Trezor | |--------|--------------------------|---------------| | Open Source | ✅ Fully | ⚠️ Partially | | Air-gapped Usage | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited | | Cost | 💸 Free (except USB) | 💰 $50–$250 | | Hidden/Coercion Defense | ✅ Hidden Volume | ❌ None | | QR Signing Support | ⚠️ Manual | ✅ Some models | | Complexity | 🧠 High | 🟢 Low | | Long-Term Resilience | ✅ No vendor risk | ⚠️ Vendor-dependent |

---

7. Consider

A DIY hardware wallet built with Electrum and VeraCrypt offers an unprecedented level of user-controlled sovereignty in Bitcoin storage. While the technical learning curve may deter casual users, those who value security, privacy, and independence will find this setup highly rewarding. This Operation demonstrates that true Bitcoin ownership requires not only control of private keys, but also a commitment to operational security and digital self-discipline. In a world of growing surveillance and digital coercion, such methods may not be optional—they may be essential.

---

8. References

• Nakamoto, Satoshi. Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System. 2008.
• Electrum Technologies GmbH. “Electrum Documentation.” electrum.org, 2024.
• VeraCrypt. “Documentation.” veracrypt.fr, 2025.
• Tails Project. “The Amnesic Incognito Live System (Tails).” tails.boum.org, 2025.
• Matonis, Jon. "DIY Cold Storage for Bitcoin." Forbes, 2014.

In Addition

🛡️ Create Your Own Secure Bitcoin Hardware Wallet: Electrum + VeraCrypt DIY Guide

Want maximum security for your Bitcoin without trusting third-party devices like Ledger or Trezor?
This guide shows you how to build your own "hardware wallet" using free open-source tools:
✅ Electrum Wallet + ✅ VeraCrypt Encrypted Flash Drive — No extra cost, no vendor risk.

Let Go Further

---

What You’ll Need

• A USB flash drive (8GB minimum, 64-bit recommended)
• A clean computer (preferably old or dedicated offline)
• Internet connection (for setup only, then go air-gapped)
• VeraCrypt software (free, open-source)
• Electrum Bitcoin Wallet AppImage file

---

Step 1: Download and Verify VeraCrypt

1. Go to VeraCrypt Official Website.
2. Download the installer for your operating system.
3. Verify the GPG signatures to ensure the download isn't tampered with.
   👉 [Insert Screenshot Here: VeraCrypt download page]

Pro Tip: Never skip verification when dealing with encryption software!

---

Step 2: Download Electrum Wallet

1. Go to Electrum Official Website.
2. Download the Linux AppImage or Windows standalone executable.
3. Again, verify the PGP signatures published on the site. 👉 [Insert Screenshot Here: Electrum download page]

---

Step 3: Prepare and Encrypt Your USB Drive

1. Insert your USB drive into the computer.
2. Open VeraCrypt and select Create Volume → Encrypt a Non-System Partition/Drive.
3. Choose Standard Volume for now (later we'll talk about hidden volumes).
4. Select your USB drive, set an extremely strong password (12+ random characters).
5. For Encryption Algorithm, select AES and SHA-512 for Hash Algorithm.
6. Choose FAT32 as the file system (compatible with Bitcoin wallet sizes under 4GB).
7. Format and encrypt. 👉 [Insert Screenshot Here: VeraCrypt creating volume]

Important: This will wipe all existing data on the USB drive!

---

Step 4: Mount the Encrypted Drive

Whenever you want to use the wallet:

1. Open VeraCrypt.
2. Select a slot (e.g., Slot 1).
3. Click Select Device, choose your USB.
4. Enter your strong password and Mount. 👉 [Insert Screenshot Here: VeraCrypt mounted volume]

---

Step 5: Set Up Electrum in Offline Mode

1. Mount your encrypted USB.
2. Copy the Electrum AppImage (or EXE) onto the USB inside the encrypted partition.
3. Run Electrum from there.
4. Select Create New Wallet.
5. Choose Standard Wallet → Create New Seed → SegWit.
6. Write down your 12-word seed phrase on PAPER.
   ❌ Never type it into anything else.
7. Finish wallet creation and disconnect from internet immediately. 👉 [Insert Screenshot Here: Electrum setup screen]

---

Step 6: Make It Air-Gapped Forever

• Only ever access the encrypted USB on an offline machine.
• Never connect this device to the internet again.
• If possible, boot into Tails OS every time for maximum security.

Pro Tip: Tails OS leaves no trace on the host computer once shut down!

---

Step 7: (Optional) Set Up a Hidden Volume

For even stronger security:

1. Repeat the VeraCrypt process to add a Hidden Volume inside your existing USB encryption.
2. Store your real Electrum wallet in the hidden volume.
3. Keep a decoy wallet with small amounts of Bitcoin in the outer volume.

👉 This way, if you're ever forced to reveal the password, you can give access to the decoy without exposing your true savings.

---

Step 8: Receiving Bitcoin

• Export your xpub (extended public key) from the air-gapped Electrum wallet.
• Import it into a watch-only Electrum wallet on your online computer.
• Generate receiving addresses without exposing your private keys.

---

Step 9: Spending Bitcoin (Safely)

To send Bitcoin later:

1. Create a Partially Signed Bitcoin Transaction (PSBT) with the online watch-only wallet.
2. Transfer the file (or QR code) offline (via USB or QR scanner).
3. Sign the transaction offline with Electrum.
4. Bring the signed file/QR back to the online device and broadcast it.

✅ Your private keys never touch the internet!

---

Step 10: Stay Vigilant

• Always dismount the encrypted drive after use.
• Store your seed phrase securely (preferably in a metal backup).
• Regularly practice recovery drills.
• Update Electrum and VeraCrypt only after verifying new downloads.

---

🎯 Consider

Building your own DIY Bitcoin hardware wallet might seem complex, but security is never accidental — it is intentional.
By using VeraCrypt encryption and Electrum offline, you control your Bitcoin in a sovereign, verifiable, and bulletproof way.

⚡ Take full custody. No companies. No middlemen. Only freedom.

---

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Operation

Central to this implementation is the utilization of Tails OS, a Debian-based live operating system designed for privacy and anonymity, alongside the Electrum Wallet, a lightweight Bitcoin wallet that provides a streamlined interface for secure Bitcoin transactions.

Additionally, the inclusion of advanced cryptographic verification mechanisms, such as QuickHash, serves to bolster integrity checks throughout the storage process. This multifaceted approach ensures a rigorous adherence to end-to-end operational security (OpSec) principles while simultaneously safeguarding user autonomy in the custody of digital assets.

Furthermore, the proposed methodology aligns seamlessly with contemporary cybersecurity paradigms, prioritizing characteristics such as deterministic builds—where software builds are derived from specific source code to eliminate variability—offline key generation processes designed to mitigate exposure to online threats, and the implementation of minimal attack surfaces aimed at reducing potential vectors for exploitation.

Ultimately, this sophisticated approach presents a methodical and secure paradigm for the custody of private keys, thereby catering to the exigencies of high-assurance Bitcoin storage requirements.

1. Cold Storage Refers To The offline Storage

Cold storage refers to the offline storage of private keys used to sign Bitcoin transactions, providing the highest level of protection against network-based threats. This paper outlines a verifiable method for constructing such a storage system using the following core principles:

• Air-gapped key generation
• Open-source software
• Deterministic cryptographic tools
• Manual integrity verification
• Offline transaction signing

The method prioritizes cryptographic security, software verifiability, and minimal hardware dependency.

---

2. Hardware and Software Requirements

2.1 Hardware

• One 64-bit computer (laptop/desktop)
• 1 x USB Flash Drive (≥8 GB, high-quality brand recommended)
• Paper and pen (for seed phrase)
• Optional: Printer (for xpub QR export)

2.2 Software Stack

• Tails OS (latest ISO, from tails.boum.org)
• Balena Etcher (to flash ISO)
• QuickHash GUI (for SHA-256 checksum validation)
• Electrum Wallet (bundled within Tails OS)

---

3. System Preparation and Software Verification

3.1 Image Verification

Prior to flashing the ISO, the integrity of the Tails OS image must be cryptographically validated. Using QuickHash:

plaintext SHA256 (tails-amd64-<version>.iso) = <expected_hash>

Compare the hash output with the official hash provided on the Tails OS website. This mitigates the risk of ISO tampering or supply chain compromise.

3.2 Flashing the OS

Balena Etcher is used to flash the ISO to a USB drive:

1. Insert USB drive.
2. Launch Balena Etcher.
3. Select the verified Tails ISO.
4. Flash to USB and safely eject.

---

4. Cold Wallet Generation Procedure

4.1 Boot Into Tails OS

• Restart the system and boot into BIOS/UEFI boot menu.
• Select the USB drive containing Tails OS.
• Configure network settings to disable all connectivity.

4.2 Create Wallet in Electrum (Cold)

• Open Electrum from the Tails application launcher.
• Select "Standard Wallet" → "Create a new seed".
• Choose SegWit for address type (for lower fees and modern compatibility).
• Write down the 12-word seed phrase on paper. Never store digitally.
• Confirm the seed.
• Set a strong password for wallet access.

---

5. Exporting the Master Public Key (xpub)

• Open Electrum > Wallet > Information
• Export the Master Public Key (MPK) for receiving-only use.
• Optionally generate QR code for cold-to-hot usage (wallet watching).

This allows real-time monitoring of incoming Bitcoin transactions without ever exposing private keys.

---

6. Transaction Workflow

6.1 Receiving Bitcoin (Cold to Hot)

1. Use the exported xpub in a watch-only wallet (desktop or mobile).
2. Generate addresses as needed.
3. Senders deposit Bitcoin to those addresses.

6.2 Spending Bitcoin (Hot Redeem Mode)

Important: This process temporarily compromises air-gap security.

1. Boot into Tails (or use Electrum in a clean Linux environment).
2. Import the 12-word seed phrase.
3. Create transaction offline.
4. Export signed transaction via QR code or USB.
5. Broadcast using an online device.

6.3 Recommended Alternative: PSBT

To avoid full wallet import: - Use Partially Signed Bitcoin Transactions (PSBT) protocol to sign offline. - Broadcast PSBT using Sparrow Wallet or Electrum online.

---

7. Security Considerations

| Threat | Mitigation | |-------|------------| | OS Compromise | Use Tails (ephemeral environment, RAM-only) | | Supply Chain Attack | Manual SHA256 verification | | Key Leakage | No network access during key generation | | Phishing/Clone Wallets | Verify Electrum’s signature (when updating) | | Physical Theft | Store paper seed in tamper-evident location |

---

8. Backup Strategy

• Store 12-word seed phrase in multiple secure physical locations.
• Do not photograph or digitize.
• For added entropy, use Shamir Secret Sharing (e.g., 2-of-3 backups).

---

9. Consider

Through the meticulous integration of verifiable software solutions, the execution of air-gapped key generation methodologies, and adherence to stringent operational protocols, users have the capacity to establish a Bitcoin cold storage wallet that embodies an elevated degree of cryptographic assurance.

This DIY system presents a zero-dependency alternative to conventional third-party custody solutions and consumer-grade hardware wallets.

Consequently, it empowers individuals with the ability to manage their Bitcoin assets while ensuring full trust minimization and maximizing their sovereign control over private keys and transaction integrity within the decentralized financial ecosystem..

10. References And Citations

Nakamoto, Satoshi. Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System. 2008.
“Tails - The Amnesic Incognito Live System.” tails.boum.org, The Tor Project.
“Electrum Bitcoin Wallet.” electrum.org, 2025.
“QuickHash GUI.” quickhash-gui.org, 2025.
“Balena Etcher.” balena.io, 2025.
Bitcoin Core Developers. “Don’t Trust, Verify.” bitcoincore.org, 2025.

In Addition

🪙 SegWit vs. Legacy Bitcoin Wallets

⚖️ TL;DR Decision Chart

| If you... | Use SegWit | Use Legacy | |-----------|----------------|----------------| | Want lower fees | ✅ Yes | 🚫 No | | Send to/from old services | ⚠️ Maybe | ✅ Yes | | Care about long-term scaling | ✅ Yes | 🚫 No | | Need max compatibility | ⚠️ Mixed | ✅ Yes | | Run a modern wallet | ✅ Yes | 🚫 Legacy support fading | | Use cold storage often | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Depends on wallet support | | Use Lightning Network | ✅ Required | 🚫 Not supported |

---

🔍 1. What Are We Comparing?

There are two major types of Bitcoin wallet address formats:

🏛️ Legacy (P2PKH)

• Format starts with: 1
• Example: 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa
• Oldest, most universally compatible
• Higher fees, larger transactions
• May lack support in newer tools and layer-2 solutions

🛰️ SegWit (P2WPKH)

• Formats start with:
• Nested SegWit (P2SH): 3...
• Native SegWit (bech32): bc1q...
• Introduced via Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) 141
• Smaller transaction sizes → lower fees
• Native support by most modern wallets

---

💸 2. Transaction Fees

SegWit = Cheaper.
- SegWit reduces the size of Bitcoin transactions in a block.
- This means you pay less per transaction.
- Example: A SegWit transaction might cost 40%–60% less in fees than a legacy one.

💡 Why?
Bitcoin charges fees per byte, not per amount.
SegWit removes certain data from the base transaction structure, which shrinks byte size.

---

🧰 3. Wallet & Service Compatibility

| Category | Legacy | SegWit (Nested / Native) | |----------|--------|---------------------------| | Old Exchanges | ✅ Full support | ⚠️ Partial | | Modern Exchanges | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | | Hardware Wallets (Trezor, Ledger) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | | Mobile Wallets (Phoenix, BlueWallet) | ⚠️ Rare | ✅ Yes | | Lightning Support | 🚫 No | ✅ Native SegWit required |

🧠 Recommendation:

If you interact with older platforms or do cross-compatibility testing, you may want to: - Use nested SegWit (address starts with 3), which is backward compatible. - Avoid bech32-only wallets if your exchange doesn't support them (though rare in 2025).

---

🛡️ 4. Security and Reliability

Both formats are secure in terms of cryptographic strength.

However: - SegWit fixes a bug known as transaction malleability, which helps build protocols on top of Bitcoin (like the Lightning Network). - SegWit transactions are more standardized going forward.

💬 User takeaway:
For basic sending and receiving, both are equally secure. But for future-proofing, SegWit is the better bet.

---

🌐 5. Future-Proofing

Legacy wallets are gradually being phased out:

• Developers are focusing on SegWit and Taproot compatibility.
• Wallet providers are defaulting to SegWit addresses.
• Fee structures increasingly assume users have upgraded.

🚨 If you're using a Legacy wallet today, you're still safe. But: - Some services may stop supporting withdrawals to legacy addresses. - Your future upgrade path may be more complex.

---

🚀 6. Real-World Scenarios

🧊 Cold Storage User

• Use SegWit for low-fee UTXOs and efficient backup formats.
• Consider Native SegWit (bc1q) if supported by your hardware wallet.

👛 Mobile Daily User

• Use Native SegWit for cheaper everyday payments.
• Ideal if using Lightning apps — it's often mandatory.

🔄 Exchange Trader

• Check your exchange’s address type support.
• Consider nested SegWit (3...) if bridging old + new systems.

---

📜 7. Migration Tips

If you're moving from Legacy to SegWit:

1. Create a new SegWit wallet in your software/hardware wallet.
2. Send funds from your old Legacy wallet to the SegWit address.
3. Back up the new seed — never reuse the old one.
4. Watch out for fee rates and change address handling.

---

✅ Final User Recommendations

| Use Case | Address Type | |----------|--------------| | Long-term HODL | SegWit (bc1q) | | Maximum compatibility | SegWit (nested 3...) | | Fee-sensitive use | Native SegWit (bc1q) | | Lightning | Native SegWit (bc1q) | | Legacy systems only | Legacy (1...) – short-term only |

---

📚 Further Reading

• Nakamoto, Satoshi. Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System. 2008.
• Bitcoin Core Developers. “Segregated Witness (Consensus Layer Change).” github.com/bitcoin, 2017.
• “Electrum Documentation: Wallet Types.” docs.electrum.org, 2024.
• “Bitcoin Wallet Compatibility.” bitcoin.org, 2025.
• Ledger Support. “SegWit vs Legacy Addresses.” ledger.com, 2024.

@ b2caa9b3:9eab0fb5

Yesterday, I faced one of the most heartbreaking and frustrating experiences of my life. Between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, I was held at the Taveta border, denied entry into Kenya—despite having all the necessary documents, including a valid visitor’s permit and an official invitation letter.

The Kenyan Immigration officers refused to speak with me. When I asked for clarification, I was told flatly that I would never be allowed to enter Kenya unless I obtain a work permit. No other reason was given. My attempts to explain that I simply wanted to see my child were ignored. No empathy. No flexibility. No conversation. Just rejection.

While I stood there for hours, held by officials with no explanation beyond a bureaucratic wall, I recorded the experience. I now have several hours of footage documenting what happened—a silent testimony to how a system can dehumanize and block basic rights.

And the situation doesn’t end at the border.

My child, born in Kenya, is also being denied the right to see me. Germany refuses to grant her citizenship, which means she cannot visit me either. The German embassy in Nairobi refuses to assist, stating they won’t get involved. Their silence is loud.

This is not just about paperwork. This is about a child growing up without her father. It’s about a system that chooses walls over bridges, and bureaucracy over humanity. Kenya, by refusing me entry, is keeping a father away from his child. Germany, by refusing to act under §13 StGB, is complicit in that injustice.

In the coming days, I’ll share more about my past travels and how this situation unfolded. I’ll also be releasing videos and updates on TikTok—because this story needs to be heard. Not just for me, but for every parent and child caught between borders and bureaucracies.

Stay tuned—and thank you for standing with me.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

---

Goal

This analytical discourse delves into Jack Dorsey's recent utterances concerning Bitcoin, artificial intelligence, decentralized social networking platforms such as Nostr, and the burgeoning landscape of open-source cryptocurrency mining initiatives.

Dorsey's pronouncements escape the confines of isolated technological fascinations; rather, they elucidate a cohesive conceptual schema wherein Bitcoin transcends its conventional role as a mere store of value—akin to digital gold—and emerges as a foundational protocol intended for the construction of a decentralized, sovereign, and perpetually self-evolving internet ecosystem.

A thorough examination of Dorsey's confluence of Bitcoin with artificial intelligence advancements, adaptive learning paradigms, and integrated social systems reveals an assertion of Bitcoin's position as an entity that evolves beyond simple currency, evolving into a distinctly novel socio-technological organism characterized by its inherent ability to adapt and grow. His vigorous endorsement of native digital currency, open communication protocols, and decentralized infrastructural frameworks is posited here as a revolutionary paradigm—a conceptual

---

1. The Path

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and Square (now Block), has emerged as one of the most compelling evangelists for a decentralized future. His ideas about Bitcoin go far beyond its role as a speculative asset or inflation hedge. In a recent interview, Dorsey ties together themes of open-source AI, peer-to-peer currency, decentralized media, and radical self-education, sketching a future in which Bitcoin is the lynchpin of an emerging technological and social ecosystem. This thesis reviews Dorsey’s statements and offers a critical framework to understand why his vision uniquely positions Bitcoin as the keystone of a post-institutional, digital world.

---

2. Bitcoin: The Native Currency of the Internet

“It’s the best current manifestation of a native internet currency.” — Jack Dorsey

Bitcoin's status as an open protocol with no central controlling authority echoes the original spirit of the internet: decentralized, borderless, and resilient. Dorsey's framing of Bitcoin not just as a payment system but as the "native money of the internet" is a profound conceptual leap. It suggests that just as HTTP became the standard for web documents, Bitcoin can become the monetary layer for the open web.

This framing bypasses traditional narratives of digital gold or institutional adoption and centers a P2P vision of global value transfer. Unlike central bank digital currencies or platform-based payment rails, Bitcoin is opt-in, permissionless, and censorship-resistant—qualities essential for sovereignty in the digital age.

---

3. Nostr and the Decentralization of Social Systems

Dorsey’s support for Nostr, an open protocol for decentralized social media, reflects a desire to restore user agency, protocol composability, and speech sovereignty. Nostr’s architecture parallels Bitcoin’s: open, extensible, and resilient to censorship.

Here, Bitcoin serves not just as money but as a network effect driver. When combined with Lightning and P2P tipping, Nostr becomes more than just a Twitter alternative—it evolves into a micropayment-native communication system, a living proof that Bitcoin can power an entire open-source social economy.

---

4. Open-Source AI and Cognitive Sovereignty

Dorsey's forecast that open-source AI will emerge as an alternative to proprietary systems aligns with his commitment to digital autonomy. If Bitcoin empowers financial sovereignty and Nostr enables communicative freedom, open-source AI can empower cognitive independence—freeing humanity from centralized algorithmic manipulation.

He draws a fascinating parallel between AI learning models and human learning itself, suggesting both can be self-directed, recursive, and radically decentralized. This resonates with the Bitcoin ethos: systems should evolve through transparent, open participation—not gatekeeping or institutional control.

---

5. Bitcoin Mining: Sovereignty at the Hardware Layer

Block’s initiative to create open-source mining hardware is a direct attempt to counter centralization in Bitcoin’s infrastructure. ASIC chip development and mining rig customization empower individuals and communities to secure the network directly.

This move reinforces Dorsey’s vision that true decentralization requires ownership at every layer, including hardware. It is a radical assertion of vertical sovereignty—from protocol to interface to silicon.

---

6. Learning as the Core Protocol

“The most compounding skill is learning itself.” — Jack Dorsey

Dorsey’s deepest insight is that the throughline connecting Bitcoin, AI, and Nostr is not technology—it’s learning. Bitcoin represents more than code; it’s a living experiment in voluntary consensus, a distributed educational system in cryptographic form.

Dorsey’s emphasis on meditation, intensive retreats, and self-guided exploration mirrors the trustless, sovereign nature of Bitcoin. Learning becomes the ultimate protocol: recursive, adaptive, and decentralized—mirroring AI models and Bitcoin nodes alike.

---

7. Critical Risks and Honest Reflections

Dorsey remains honest about Bitcoin’s current limitations:

• Accessibility: UX barriers for onboarding new users.
• Usability: Friction in everyday use.
• State-Level Adoption: Risks of co-optation as mere digital gold.

However, his caution enhances credibility. His focus remains on preserving Bitcoin as a P2P electronic cash system, not transforming it into another tool of institutional control.

---

8. Bitcoin as a Living System

What emerges from Dorsey's vision is not a product pitch, but a philosophical reorientation: Bitcoin, Nostr, and open AI are not discrete tools—they are living systems forming a new type of civilization stack.

They are not static infrastructures, but emergent grammars of human cooperation, facilitating value exchange, learning, and community formation in ways never possible before.

Bitcoin, in this view, is not merely stunningly original—it is civilizationally generative, offering not just monetary innovation but a path to software-upgraded humanity.

---

Works Cited and Tools Used

Dorsey, Jack. Interview on Bitcoin, AI, and Decentralization. April 2025.
Nakamoto, Satoshi. “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.” 2008.
Nostr Protocol. https://nostr.com.
Block, Inc. Bitcoin Mining Hardware Initiatives. 2024.
Obsidian Canvas. Decentralized Note-Taking and Networked Thinking. 2025.

Dorseys talk Is available here and is very potent and an important signal to all building in this space

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Idea

Through the integration of Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Docker-based deployment, and secure remote access via Twin Gate, Paperless NGX empowers individuals and small organizations to digitize, organize, and retrieve documents with minimal friction. This research explores its technical infrastructure, real-world applications, and how such a system can redefine document archival practices for the digital age.

---

Agile, Remote-Accessible, and Searchable Document System

In a world of increasing digital interdependence, managing physical documents is becoming not only inefficient but also environmentally and logistically unsustainable. The demand for agile, remote-accessible, and searchable document systems has never been higher—especially for researchers, small businesses, and archival professionals. Paperless NGX, an open-source platform, addresses these needs by offering a streamlined, secure, and automated way to manage documents digitally.

This Idea explores how Paperless NGX facilitates the transition to a paperless workflow and proposes best practices for sustainable, scalable usage.

---

Paperless NGX: The Platform

Paperless NGX is an advanced fork of the original Paperless project, redesigned with modern containers, faster performance, and enhanced community contributions. Its core functions include:

• Text Extraction with OCR: Leveraging the ocrmypdf Python library, Paperless NGX can extract searchable text from scanned PDFs and images.
• Searchable Document Indexing: Full-text search allows users to locate documents not just by filename or metadata, but by actual content.
• Dockerized Setup: A ready-to-use Docker Compose environment simplifies deployment, including the use of setup scripts for Ubuntu-based servers.
• Modular Workflows: Custom triggers and automation rules allow for smart processing pipelines based on file tags, types, or email source.

---

Key Features and Technical Infrastructure

1. Installation and Deployment

The system runs in a containerized environment, making it highly portable and isolated. A typical installation involves: - Docker Compose with YAML configuration - Volume mapping for persistent storage - Optional integration with reverse proxies (e.g., Nginx) for HTTPS access

2. OCR and Indexing

Using ocrmypdf, scanned documents are processed into fully searchable PDFs. This function dramatically improves retrieval, especially for archived legal, medical, or historical records.

3. Secure Access via Twin Gate

To solve the challenge of secure remote access without exposing the network, Twin Gate acts as a zero-trust access proxy. It encrypts communication between the Paperless NGX server and the client, enabling access from anywhere without the need for traditional VPNs.

4. Email Integration and Ingestion

Paperless NGX can ingest attachments directly from configured email folders. This feature automates much of the document intake process, especially useful for receipts, invoices, and academic PDFs.

---

Sustainable Document Management Workflow

A practical paperless strategy requires not just tools, but repeatable processes. A sustainable workflow recommended by the Paperless NGX community includes:

1. Capture & Tagging
   All incoming documents are tagged with a default “inbox” tag for triage.
2. Physical Archive Correlation
   If the physical document is retained, assign it a serial number (e.g., ASN-001), which is matched digitally.
3. Curation & Tagging
   Apply relevant category and topic tags to improve searchability.
4. Archival Confirmation
   Remove the “inbox” tag once fully processed and categorized.

---

Backup and Resilience

Reliability is key to any archival system. Paperless NGX includes backup functionality via: - Cron job–scheduled Docker exports - Offsite and cloud backups using rsync or encrypted cloud drives - Restore mechanisms using documented CLI commands

This ensures document availability even in the event of hardware failure or data corruption.

---

Limitations and Considerations

While Paperless NGX is powerful, it comes with several caveats: - Technical Barrier to Entry: Requires basic Docker and Linux skills to install and maintain. - OCR Inaccuracy for Handwritten Texts: The OCR engine may struggle with cursive or handwritten documents. - Plugin and Community Dependency: Continuous support relies on active community contribution.

---

Consider

Paperless NGX emerges as a pragmatic and privacy-centric alternative to conventional cloud-based document management systems, effectively addressing the critical challenges of data security and user autonomy.

The implementation of advanced Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology facilitates the indexing and searching of documents, significantly enhancing information retrieval efficiency.

Additionally, the platform offers secure remote access protocols that ensure data integrity while preserving the confidentiality of sensitive information during transmission.

Furthermore, its customizable workflow capabilities empower both individuals and organizations to precisely tailor their data management processes, thereby reclaiming sovereignty over their information ecosystems.

In an era increasingly characterized by a shift towards paperless methodologies, the significance of solutions such as Paperless NGX cannot be overstated; they play an instrumental role in engineering a future in which information remains not only accessible but also safeguarded and sustainably governed.

In Addition

To Further The Idea

This technical paper presents an optimized strategy for transforming an Intel NUC into a compact, power-efficient self-hosted server using Ubuntu. The setup emphasizes reliability, low energy consumption, and cost-effectiveness for personal or small business use. Services such as Paperless NGX, Nextcloud, Gitea, and Docker containers are examined for deployment. The paper details hardware selection, system installation, secure remote access, and best practices for performance and longevity.

---

1. Cloud sovereignty, Privacy, and Data Ownership

As cloud sovereignty, privacy, and data ownership become critical concerns, self-hosting is increasingly appealing. An Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) provides an ideal middle ground between Raspberry Pi boards and enterprise-grade servers—balancing performance, form factor, and power draw. With Ubuntu LTS and Docker, users can run a full suite of services with minimal overhead.

---

2. Hardware Overview

2.1 Recommended NUC Specifications:

| Component | Recommended Specs | |------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | Model | Intel NUC 11/12 Pro (e.g., NUC11TNHi5, NUC12WSKi7) | | CPU | Intel Core i5 or i7 (11th/12th Gen) | | RAM | 16GB–32GB DDR4 (dual channel preferred) | | Storage | 512GB–2TB NVMe SSD (Samsung 980 Pro or similar) | | Network | Gigabit Ethernet + Optional Wi-Fi 6 | | Power Supply | 65W USB-C or barrel connector | | Cooling | Internal fan, well-ventilated location |

NUCs are also capable of dual-drive setups and support for Intel vPro for remote management on some models.

---

3. Operating System and Software Stack

3.1 Ubuntu Server LTS

• Version: Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS
• Installation Method: Bootable USB (Rufus or Balena Etcher)
• Disk Partitioning: LVM with encryption recommended for full disk security
• Security:
• UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall)
• Fail2ban
• SSH hardened with key-only login

bash sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade sudo ufw allow OpenSSH sudo ufw enable

---

4. Docker and System Services

Docker and Docker Compose streamline the deployment of isolated, reproducible environments.

4.1 Install Docker and Compose

bash sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose sudo systemctl enable docker

4.2 Common Services to Self-Host:

| Application | Description | Access Port | |--------------------|----------------------------------------|-------------| | Paperless NGX | Document archiving and OCR | 8000 | | Nextcloud | Personal cloud, contacts, calendar | 443 | | Gitea | Lightweight Git repository | 3000 | | Nginx Proxy Manager| SSL proxy for all services | 81, 443 | | Portainer | Docker container management GUI | 9000 | | Watchtower | Auto-update containers | - |

---

5. Network & Remote Access

5.1 Local IP & Static Assignment

• Set a static IP for consistent access (via router DHCP reservation or Netplan).

5.2 Access Options

• Local Only: VPN into local network (e.g., WireGuard, Tailscale)
• Remote Access:
• Reverse proxy via Nginx with Certbot for HTTPS
• Twin Gate or Tailscale for zero-trust remote access
• DNS via DuckDNS, Cloudflare

---

6. Performance Optimization

• Enable zram for compressed RAM swap
• Trim SSDs weekly with fstrim
• Use Docker volumes, not bind mounts for stability
• Set up unattended upgrades:

bash sudo apt install unattended-upgrades sudo dpkg-reconfigure --priority=low unattended-upgrades

---

7. Power and Environmental Considerations

• Idle Power Draw: ~7–12W (depending on configuration)
• UPS Recommended: e.g., APC Back-UPS 600VA
• Use BIOS Wake-on-LAN if remote booting is needed

---

8. Maintenance and Monitoring

• Monitoring: Glances, Netdata, or Prometheus + Grafana
• Backups:
• Use rsync to external drive or NAS
• Cloud backup options: rclone to Google Drive, S3
• Paperless NGX backups: docker compose exec -T web document-exporter ...

---

9. Consider

Running a personal server using an Intel NUC and Ubuntu offers a private, low-maintenance, and modular solution to digital infrastructure needs. It’s an ideal base for self-hosting services, offering superior control over data and strong security with the right setup. The NUC's small form factor and efficient power usage make it an optimal home server platform that scales well for many use cases.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Idea

By instituting a robust network of conceptual entities, referred to as 'Obsidian nodes'—which are effectively discrete, idea-centric notes—researchers are empowered to establish a resilient and non-linear archival framework for knowledge accumulation.

These nodes, intricately connected via hyperlinks and systematically organized through the graphical interface of the Obsidian Canvas, facilitate profound intellectual exploration and the synthesis of disparate domains of knowledge.

Consequently, this innovative workflow paradigm emphasizes semantic precision and the interconnectedness of ideas, diverging from conventional, source-centric information architectures prevalent in traditional academic practices.

---

Traditional research workflows often emphasize organizing notes by source, resulting in static, siloed knowledge that resists integration and insight. With the rise of personal knowledge management (PKM) tools like Obsidian, it becomes possible to structure information in a way that mirrors the dynamic and interconnected nature of human thought.

At the heart of this approach are Obsidian nodes—atomic, standalone notes representing single ideas, arguments, or claims. These nodes form the basis of a semantic research network, made visible and manageable via Obsidian’s graph view and Canvas feature. This thesis outlines how such a framework enhances understanding, supports creativity, and aligns with best practices in information architecture.

---

Obsidian Nodes: Atomic Units of Thought

An Obsidian node is a note crafted to encapsulate one meaningful concept or question. It is:

• Atomic: Contains only one idea, making it easier to link and reuse.
• Context-Independent: Designed to stand on its own, without requiring the original source for meaning.
• Networked: Linked to other Obsidian nodes through backlinks and tags.

This system draws on the principles of the Zettelkasten method, but adapts them to the modern, markdown-based environment of Obsidian.

Benefits of Node-Based Note-Taking

• Improved Retrieval: Ideas can be surfaced based on content relevance, not source origin.
• Cross-Disciplinary Insight: Linking between concepts across fields becomes intuitive.
• Sustainable Growth: Each new node adds value to the network without redundancy.

---

Graph View: Visualizing Connections

Obsidian’s graph view offers a macro-level overview of the knowledge graph, showing how nodes interrelate. This encourages serendipitous discovery and identifies central or orphaned concepts that need further development.

• Clusters emerge around major themes.
• Hubs represent foundational ideas.
• Bridges between nodes show interdisciplinary links.

The graph view isn’t just a map—it’s an evolving reflection of intellectual progress.

---

Canvas: Thinking Spatially with Digital Notes

Obsidian Canvas acts as a digital thinking space. Unlike the abstract graph view, Canvas allows for spatial arrangement of Obsidian nodes, images, and ideas. This supports visual reasoning, ideation, and project planning.

Use Cases of Canvas

• Synthesizing Ideas: Group related nodes in physical proximity.
• Outlining Arguments: Arrange claims into narrative or logic flows.
• Designing Research Papers: Lay out structure and integrate supporting points visually.

Canvas brings a tactile quality to digital thinking, enabling workflows similar to sticky notes, mind maps, or corkboard pinning—but with markdown-based power and extensibility.

---

Template and Workflow

To simplify creation and encourage consistency, Obsidian nodes are generated using a templater plugin. Each node typically includes:

```markdown

{{title}}

Tags: #topic #field
Linked Nodes: [[Related Node]]
Summary: A 1-2 sentence idea explanation.
Source: [[Source Note]]
Date Created: {{date}}
```

The Canvas workspace pulls these nodes as cards, allowing for arrangement, grouping, and visual tracing of arguments or research paths.

---

Discussion and Challenges

While this approach enhances creativity and research depth, challenges include:

• Initial Setup: Learning and configuring plugins like Templater, Dataview, and Canvas.
• Overlinking or Underlinking: Finding the right granularity in note-making takes practice.
• Scalability: As networks grow, maintaining structure and avoiding fragmentation becomes crucial.
• Team Collaboration: While Git can assist, Obsidian remains largely optimized for solo workflows.

---

Consider

Through the innovative employment of Obsidian's interconnected nodes and the Canvas feature, researchers are enabled to construct a meticulously engineered semantic architecture that reflects the intricate topology of their knowledge frameworks.

This paradigm shift facilitates a transformation of conventional note-taking, evolving this practice from a static, merely accumulative repository of information into a dynamic and adaptive cognitive ecosystem that actively engages with the user’s thought processes. With methodological rigor and a structured approach, Obsidian transcends its role as mere documentation software, evolving into both a secondary cognitive apparatus and a sophisticated digital writing infrastructure.

This dual functionality significantly empowers the long-term intellectual endeavors and creative pursuits of students, scholars, and lifelong learners, thereby enhancing their capacity for sustained engagement with complex ideas.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

A Knowledge Management Framework for your Academic Writing

Idea Approach

The primary objective of this framework is to streamline and enhance the efficiency of several critical academic processes, namely the reading, annotation, synthesis, and writing stages inherent to doctoral studies.

By leveraging established best practices from various domains, including digital note-taking methodologies, sophisticated knowledge management techniques, and the scientifically-grounded principles of spaced repetition systems, this proposed workflow is adept at optimizing long-term retention of information, fostering the development of novel ideas, and facilitating the meticulous preparation of manuscripts. Furthermore, this integrated approach capitalizes on Zotero's robust annotation functionalities, harmoniously merged with Obsidian's Zettelkasten-inspired architecture, thereby enriching the depth and structural coherence of academic inquiry, ultimately leading to more impactful scholarly contributions.

Doctoral research demands a sophisticated approach to information management, critical thinking, and synthesis. Traditional systems of note-taking and bibliography management are often fragmented and inefficient, leading to cognitive overload and disorganized research outputs. This thesis proposes a workflow that leverages Zotero for reference management, Obsidian for networked note-taking, and Anki for spaced repetition learning—each component enhanced by a set of plugins, templates, and color-coded systems.

---

2. Literature Review and Context

2.1 Digital Research Workflows

Recent research in digital scholarship has highlighted the importance of structured knowledge environments. Tools like Roam Research, Obsidian, and Notion have gained traction among academics seeking flexibility and networked thinking. However, few workflows provide seamless interoperability between reference management, reading, and idea synthesis.

2.2 The Zettelkasten Method

Originally developed by sociologist Niklas Luhmann, the Zettelkasten ("slip-box") method emphasizes creating atomic notes—single ideas captured and linked through context. This approach fosters long-term idea development and is highly compatible with digital graph-based note systems like Obsidian.

---

3. Zotero Workflow: Structured Annotation and Tagging

Zotero serves as the foundational tool for ingesting and organizing academic materials. The built-in PDF reader is augmented through a color-coded annotation schema designed to categorize information efficiently:

• Red: Refuted or problematic claims requiring skepticism or clarification
• Yellow: Prominent claims, novel hypotheses, or insightful observations
• Green: Verified facts or claims that align with the research narrative
• Purple: Structural elements like chapter titles or section headers
• Blue: Inter-author references or connections to external ideas
• Pink: Unclear arguments, logical gaps, or questions for future inquiry
• Orange: Precise definitions and technical terminology

Annotations are accompanied by tags and notes in Zotero, allowing robust filtering and thematic grouping.

---

4. Obsidian Integration: Bridging Annotation and Synthesis

4.1 Plugin Architecture

Three key plugins optimize Obsidian’s role in the workflow:

• Zotero Integration (via obsidian-citation-plugin): Syncs annotated PDFs and metadata directly from Zotero
• Highlighter: Enables color-coded highlights in Obsidian, mirroring Zotero's scheme
• Templater: Automates formatting and consistency using Nunjucks templates

A custom keyboard shortcut (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+Z) is used to trigger the extraction of annotations into structured Obsidian notes.

4.2 Custom Templating

The templating system ensures imported notes include:

• Citation metadata (title, author, year, journal)
• Full-color annotations with comments and page references
• Persistent notes for long-term synthesis
• An embedded bibtex citation key for seamless referencing

---

5. Zettelkasten and Atomic Note Generation

Obsidian’s networked note system supports idea-centered knowledge development. Each note captures a singular, discrete idea—independent of the source material—facilitating:

• Thematic convergence across disciplines
• Independent recombination of ideas
• Emergence of new questions and hypotheses

A standard atomic note template includes: - Note ID (timestamp or semantic UID) - Topic statement - Linked references - Associated atomic notes (via backlinks)

The Graph View provides a visual map of conceptual relationships, allowing researchers to track the evolution of their arguments.

---

6. Canvas for Spatial Organization

Obsidian’s Canvas plugin is used to mimic physical research boards: - Notes are arranged spatially to represent conceptual clusters or chapter structures - Embedded visual content enhances memory retention and creative thought - Notes and cards can be grouped by theme, timeline, or argumentative flow

This supports both granular research and holistic thesis design.

---

7. Flashcard Integration with Anki

Key insights, definitions, and questions are exported from Obsidian to Anki, enabling spaced repetition of core content. This supports: - Preparation for comprehensive exams - Retention of complex theories and definitions - Active recall training during literature reviews

Flashcards are automatically generated using Obsidian-to-Anki bridges, with tagging synced to Obsidian topics.

---

8. Word Processor Integration and Writing Stage

Zotero’s Word plugin simplifies: - In-text citation - Automatic bibliography generation - Switching between citation styles (APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.)

Drafts in Obsidian are later exported into formal academic writing environments such as Microsoft Word or LaTeX editors for formatting and submission.

---

9. Discussion and Evaluation

The proposed workflow significantly reduces friction in managing large volumes of information and promotes deep engagement with source material. Its modular nature allows adaptation for various disciplines and writing styles. Potential limitations include: - Initial learning curve - Reliance on plugin maintenance - Challenges in team-based collaboration

Nonetheless, the ability to unify reading, note-taking, synthesis, and writing into a seamless ecosystem offers clear benefits in focus, productivity, and academic rigor.

---

10. Consider

This idea demonstrates that a well-structured digital workflow using Zotero and Obsidian can transform the PhD research process. It empowers researchers to move beyond passive reading into active knowledge creation, aligned with the long-term demands of scholarly writing. Future iterations could include AI-assisted summarization, collaborative graph spaces, and greater mobile integration.

9. Evaluation Of The Approach

While this workflow offers significant advantages in clarity, synthesis, and long-term idea development, several limitations must be acknowledged:

• Initial Learning Curve: New users may face a steep learning curve when setting up and mastering the integrated use of Zotero, Obsidian, and their associated plugins. Understanding markdown syntax, customizing templates in Templater, and configuring citation keys all require upfront time investment. However, this learning period can be offset by the long-term gains in productivity and mental clarity.

• Plugin Ecosystem Volatility: Since both Obsidian and many of its key plugins are maintained by open-source communities or individual developers, updates can occasionally break workflows or require manual adjustments.

• Interoperability Challenges: Synchronizing metadata, highlights, and notes between systems (especially on multiple devices or operating systems) may present issues if not managed carefully. This includes Zotero’s Better BibTeX keys, Obsidian sync, and Anki integration.

• Limited Collaborative Features: This workflow is optimized for individual use. Real-time collaboration on notes or shared reference libraries may require alternative platforms or additional tooling.

Despite these constraints, the workflow remains highly adaptable and has proven effective across disciplines for researchers aiming to build a durable intellectual infrastructure over the course of a PhD.

9. Evaluation Of The Approach

While the Zotero–Obsidian workflow dramatically improves research organization and long-term knowledge retention, several caveats must be considered:

• Initial Learning Curve: Mastery of this workflow requires technical setup and familiarity with markdown, citation keys, and plugin configuration. While challenging at first, the learning effort is front-loaded and pays off in efficiency over time.

• Reliance on Plugin Maintenance: A key risk of this system is its dependence on community-maintained plugins. Tools like Zotero Integration, Templater, and Highlighter are not officially supported by Obsidian or Zotero core teams. This means updates or changes to the Obsidian API or plugin repository may break functionality or introduce bugs. Active plugin support is crucial to the system’s longevity.

• Interoperability and Syncing Issues: Managing synchronization across Zotero, Obsidian, and Anki—especially across multiple devices—can lead to inconsistencies or data loss without careful setup. Users should ensure robust syncing solutions (e.g. Obsidian Sync, Zotero WebDAV, or GitHub backup).

• Limited Collaboration Capabilities: This setup is designed for solo research workflows. Collaborative features (such as shared note-taking or group annotations) are limited and may require alternate solutions like Notion, Google Docs, or Overleaf when working in teams.

The integration of Zotero with Obsidian presents a notable advantage for individual researchers, exhibiting substantial efficiency in literature management and personal knowledge organization through its unique workflows. However, this model demonstrates significant deficiencies when evaluated in the context of collaborative research dynamics.

Specifically, while Zotero facilitates the creation and management of shared libraries, allowing for the aggregation of sources and references among users, Obsidian is fundamentally limited by its lack of intrinsic support for synchronous collaborative editing functionalities, thereby precluding simultaneous contributions from multiple users in real time. Although the application of version control systems such as Git has the potential to address this limitation, enabling a structured mechanism for tracking changes and managing contributions, the inherent complexity of such systems may pose a barrier to usability for team members who lack familiarity or comfort with version control protocols.

Furthermore, the nuances of color-coded annotation systems and bespoke personal note taxonomies utilized by individual researchers may present interoperability challenges when applied in a group setting, as these systems require rigorously defined conventions to ensure consistency and clarity in cross-collaborator communication and understanding. Thus, researchers should be cognizant of the challenges inherent in adapting tools designed for solitary workflows to the multifaceted requirements of collaborative research initiatives.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

1. The Ledger or Physical USD?

Bitcoin embodies a paradigmatic transformation in the foundational constructs of trust, ownership, and value preservation within the context of a digital economy. In stark contrast to conventional financial infrastructures that are predicated on centralized regulatory frameworks, Bitcoin operationalizes an intricate interplay of cryptographic techniques, consensus-driven algorithms, and incentivization structures to engender a decentralized and censorship-resistant paradigm for the transfer and safeguarding of digital assets. This conceptual framework elucidates the pivotal mechanisms underpinning Bitcoin's functional architecture, encompassing its distributed ledger technology (DLT) structure, robust security protocols, consensus algorithms such as Proof of Work (PoW), the intricacies of its monetary policy defined by the halving events and limited supply, as well as the broader implications these components have on stakeholder engagement and user agency.

2. The Core Functionality of Bitcoin

At its core, Bitcoin is a public ledger that records ownership and transfers of value. This ledger—called the blockchain—is maintained and verified by thousands of decentralized nodes across the globe.

2.1 Public Ledger

All Bitcoin transactions are stored in a transparent, append-only ledger. Each transaction includes: - A reference to prior ownership (input) - A transfer of value to a new owner (output) - A digital signature proving authorization

2.2 Ownership via Digital Signatures

Bitcoin uses asymmetric cryptography: - A private key is known only to the owner and is used to sign transactions. - A public key (or address) is used by the network to verify the authenticity of the transaction.

This system ensures that only the rightful owner can spend bitcoins, and that all network participants can independently verify that the transaction is valid.

---

3. Decentralization and Ledger Synchronization

Unlike traditional banking systems, which rely on a central institution, Bitcoin’s ledger is decentralized: - Every node keeps a copy of the blockchain. - No single party controls the system. - Updates to the ledger occur only through network consensus.

This decentralization ensures fault tolerance, censorship resistance, and transparency.

---

4. Preventing Double Spending

One of Bitcoin’s most critical innovations is solving the double-spending problem without a central authority.

4.1 Balance Validation

Before a transaction is accepted, nodes verify: - The digital signature is valid. - The input has not already been spent. - The sender has sufficient balance.

This is made possible by referencing previous transactions and ensuring the inputs match the unspent transaction outputs (UTXOs).

---

5. Blockchain and Proof-of-Work

To ensure consistency across the distributed network, Bitcoin uses a blockchain—a sequential chain of blocks containing batches of verified transactions.

5.1 Mining and Proof-of-Work

Adding a new block requires solving a cryptographic puzzle, known as Proof-of-Work (PoW): - The puzzle involves finding a hash value that meets network-defined difficulty. - This process requires computational power, which deters tampering. - Once a block is validated, it is propagated across the network.

5.2 Block Rewards and Incentives

Miners are incentivized to participate by: - Block rewards: New bitcoins issued with each block (initially 50 BTC, halved every ~4 years). - Transaction fees: Paid by users to prioritize their transactions.

---

6. Network Consensus and Security

Bitcoin relies on Nakamoto Consensus, which prioritizes the longest chain—the one with the most accumulated proof-of-work.

• In case of competing chains (forks), the network chooses the chain with the most computational effort.
• This mechanism makes rewriting history or creating fraudulent blocks extremely difficult, as it would require control of over 50% of the network's total hash power.

---

7. Transaction Throughput and Fees

Bitcoin’s average block time is 10 minutes, and each block can contain ~1MB of data, resulting in ~3–7 transactions per second.

• During periods of high demand, users compete by offering higher transaction fees to get included faster.
• Solutions like Lightning Network aim to scale transaction speed and lower costs by processing payments off-chain.

---

8. Monetary Policy and Scarcity

Bitcoin enforces a fixed supply cap of 21 million coins, making it deflationary by design.

• This limited supply contrasts with fiat currencies, which can be printed at will by central banks.
• The controlled issuance schedule and halving events contribute to Bitcoin’s store-of-value narrative, similar to digital gold.

---

9. Consider

Bitcoin integrates advanced cryptographic methodologies, including public-private key pairings and hashing algorithms, to establish a formidable framework of security that underpins its operation as a digital currency. The economic incentives are meticulously structured through mechanisms such as mining rewards and transaction fees, which not only incentivize network participation but also regulate the supply of Bitcoin through a halving schedule intrinsic to its decentralized protocol. This architecture manifests a paradigm wherein individual users can autonomously oversee their financial assets, authenticate transactions through a rigorously constructed consensus algorithm, specifically the Proof of Work mechanism, and engage with a borderless financial ecosystem devoid of traditional intermediaries such as banks. Despite the notable challenges pertaining to transaction throughput scalability and a complex regulatory landscape that intermittently threatens its proliferation, Bitcoin steadfastly persists as an archetype of decentralized trust, heralding a transformative shift in financial paradigms within the contemporary digital milieu.

---

10. References

• Nakamoto, S. (2008). Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.
• Antonopoulos, A. M. (2017). Mastering Bitcoin: Unlocking Digital Cryptocurrencies.
• Bitcoin.org. (n.d.). How Bitcoin Works

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

WebSocket communication is integral to modern real-time web applications, powering everything from chat apps and online gaming to collaborative editing tools and live dashboards. However, its persistent and event-driven nature introduces unique debugging challenges. Traditional browser developer tools provide limited insight into WebSocket message flows, especially in complex, asynchronous applications.

This thesis evaluates the use of Chrome-based browser extensions—specifically those designed to enhance WebSocket debugging—and explores how visual event tracing improves developer experience (DX). By profiling real-world applications and comparing built-in tools with popular WebSocket DevTools extensions, we analyze the impact of visual feedback, message inspection, and timeline tracing on debugging efficiency, code quality, and development speed.

The Idea

As front-end development evolves, WebSockets have become a foundational technology for building reactive user experiences. Debugging WebSocket behavior, however, remains a cumbersome task. Chrome DevTools offers a basic view of WebSocket frames, but lacks features such as message categorization, event correlation, or contextual logging. Developers often resort to console.log and custom logging systems, increasing friction and reducing productivity.

This research investigates how browser extensions designed for WebSocket inspection—such as Smart WebSocket Client, WebSocket King Client, and WSDebugger—can enhance debugging workflows. We focus on features that provide visual structure to communication patterns, simplify message replay, and allow for real-time monitoring of state transitions.

Related Work

Chrome DevTools

While Chrome DevTools supports WebSocket inspection under the Network > Frames tab, its utility is limited: - Messages are displayed in a flat, unstructured stream. - No built-in timeline or replay mechanism. - Filtering and contextual debugging features are minimal.

WebSocket-Specific Extensions

Numerous browser extensions aim to fill this gap: - Smart WebSocket Client: Allows custom message sending, frame inspection, and saved session reuse. - WSDebugger: Offers structured logging and visualization of message flows. - WebSocket Monitor: Enables real-time monitoring of multiple connections with UI overlays.

Methodology

Tools Evaluated:

• Chrome DevTools (baseline)
• Smart WebSocket Client
• WSDebugger
• WebSocket King Client

Evaluation Criteria:

• Real-time message monitoring
• UI clarity and UX consistency
• Support for message replay and editing
• Message categorization and filtering
• Timeline-based visualization

Test Applications:

• A collaborative markdown editor
• A multiplayer drawing game (WebSocket over Node.js)
• A lightweight financial dashboard (stock ticker)

Findings

1. Enhanced Visibility

Extensions provide structured visual representations of WebSocket communication: - Grouped messages by type (e.g., chat, system, control) - Color-coded frames for quick scanning - Collapsible and expandable message trees

2. Real-Time Inspection and Replay

• Replaying previous messages with altered payloads accelerates bug reproduction.
• Message history can be annotated, aiding team collaboration during debugging.

3. Timeline-Based Analysis

• Extensions with timeline views help identify latency issues, bottlenecks, and inconsistent message pacing.
• Developers can correlate message sequences with UI events more intuitively.

4. Improved Debugging Flow

• Developers report reduced context-switching between source code and devtools.
• Some extensions allow breakpoints or watchers on WebSocket events, mimicking JavaScript debugging.

Consider

Visual debugging extensions represent a key advancement in tooling for real-time application development. By extending Chrome DevTools with features tailored for WebSocket tracing, developers gain actionable insights, faster debugging cycles, and a better understanding of application behavior. Future work should explore native integration of timeline and message tagging features into standard browser DevTools.

Developer Experience and Limitations

Visual tools significantly enhance the developer experience (DX) by reducing friction and offering cognitive support during debugging. Rather than parsing raw JSON blobs manually or tracing asynchronous behavior through logs, developers can rely on intuitive UI affordances such as real-time visualizations, message filtering, and replay features.

However, some limitations remain:

• Lack of binary frame support: Many extensions focus on text-based payloads and may not correctly parse or display binary frames.
• Non-standard encoding issues: Applications using custom serialization formats (e.g., Protocol Buffers, MsgPack) require external decoding tools or browser instrumentation.
• Extension compatibility: Some extensions may conflict with Content Security Policies (CSP) or have limited functionality when debugging production sites served over HTTPS.
• Performance overhead: Real-time visualization and logging can add browser CPU/memory overhead, particularly in high-frequency WebSocket environments.

Despite these drawbacks, the overall impact on debugging efficiency and developer comprehension remains highly positive.

Developer Experience and Limitations

Visual tools significantly enhance the developer experience (DX) by reducing friction and offering cognitive support during debugging. Rather than parsing raw JSON blobs manually or tracing asynchronous behavior through logs, developers can rely on intuitive UI affordances such as live message streams, structured views, and interactive inspection of frames.

However, some limitations exist:

• Security restrictions: Content Security Policy (CSP) and Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) can restrict browser extensions from accessing WebSocket frames in production environments.
• Binary and custom formats: Extensions may not handle binary frames or non-standard encodings (e.g., Protocol Buffers) without additional tooling.
• Limited protocol awareness: Generic tools may not fully interpret application-specific semantics, requiring context from the developer.
• Performance trade-offs: Logging and rendering large volumes of data can cause UI lag, especially in high-throughput WebSocket apps.

Despite these constraints, DevTools extensions continue to offer valuable insight during development and testing stages.

Applying this analysis to relays in the Nostr protocol surfaces some fascinating implications about traffic analysis, developer tooling, and privacy risks, even when data is cryptographically signed. Here's how the concepts relate:

---

🧠 What This Means for Nostr Relays

1. Traffic Analysis Still Applies

Even though Nostr events are cryptographically signed and, optionally, encrypted (e.g., DMs), relay communication is over plaintext WebSockets or WSS (WebSocket Secure). This means:

• IP addresses, packet size, and timing patterns are all visible to anyone on-path (e.g., ISPs, malicious actors).
• Client behavior can be inferred: Is someone posting, reading, or just idling?
• Frequent "kind" values (like kind:1 for notes or kind:4 for encrypted DMs) produce recognizable traffic fingerprints.

🔍 Example:

A pattern like: - client → relay: small frame at intervals of 30s - relay → client: burst of medium frames …could suggest someone is polling for new posts or using a chat app built on Nostr.

---

2. DevTools for Nostr Client Devs

For client developers (e.g., building on top of nostr-tools), browser DevTools and WebSocket inspection make debugging much easier:

• You can trace real-time Nostr events without writing logging logic.
• You can verify frame integrity, event flow, and relay responses instantly.
• However, DevTools have limits when Nostr apps use:
• Binary payloads (e.g., zlib-compressed events)
• Custom encodings or protocol adaptations (e.g., for mobile)

---

3. Fingerprinting Relays and Clients

• Each relay has its own behavior: how fast it responds, whether it sends OKs, how it deals with malformed events.
• These can be fingerprinted by adversaries to identify which software is being used (e.g., nostr-rs-relay, strfry, etc.).
• Similarly, client apps often emit predictable REQ, EVENT, CLOSE sequences that can be fingerprinted even over WSS.

---

4. Privacy Risks

Even if DMs are encrypted: - Message size and timing can hint at contents ("user is typing", long vs. short message, emoji burst, etc.) - Public relays might correlate patterns across multiple clients—even without payload access. - Side-channel analysis becomes viable against high-value targets.

---

5. Mitigation Strategies in Nostr

Borrowing from TLS and WebSocket security best practices:

| Strategy | Application to Nostr | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | Padding messages | Normalize EVENT size, especially for DMs | | Batching requests | Send multiple REQ subscriptions in one frame | | Randomize connection times | Avoid predictable connection schedules | | Use private relays / Tor| Obfuscate source IP and reduce metadata exposure | | Connection reuse | Avoid per-event relay opens, use persistent WSS |

---

TL;DR for Builders

If you're building on Nostr and care about privacy, WebSocket metadata is a leak. The payload isn't the only thing that matters. Be mindful of event timing, size, and structure, even over encrypted channels.

@ a296b972:e5a7a2e8

Aus der Ferne sieht man nur ein Gefängnis aus Beton. Doch wenn man näher herankommt, sieht man, dass die Mauern schon sehr brüchig sind und das Regenwasser mit jedem Schauer tiefer in das Gemäuer eindringt. Da bleibt es. Bis die Temperaturen unter Null gehen und das Wasser gefriert. Jetzt entfaltet das Eis seine physikalische Kraft, es rückt dem Beton zu leibe, es dehnt sich aus und sprengt ihn.

Das geht nun schon fünf Jahre so. Fünf Jahre immer wieder Regen, abwechselnd mit Frost und Eis. Die Risse werden größer, der Beton immer morscher. So lange, bis die Mauern ihre Tragfähigkeit verlieren und einstürzen.

Was soll das? Fängt da einer an zu spinnen? Wozu diese Metapher?

Hätte man zu Anfang gleich geschrieben: Wir, die kritischen Menschen, die sich der Wahrheit verpflichtet haben, sitzen in unserer Blase wie in einem Gefängnis und erreichen die da draußen nicht. Da hätten sicher viele gesagt: Oh, da will aber jemand die Opferrolle in vollen Zügen auskosten. Nee, nee, wir sind keine Opfer, wir sind Täter. Wir sammeln und bewahren die ständig neu dazukommenden Erkenntnisse der Wissenschaft und politischen Lügereien. Wir lernen Bücher auswendig, bevor die Feuerwehr kommt und sie verbrennt.

„Fahrenheit 451“

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3Kx-uiP0bY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsNMxUSCKWo

„Das Haus ist für unbewohnbar erklärt worden und muss verbrannt werden.“

So primitiv geht man heute nicht mehr vor. Heute stehen die Feuerwehrmänner und ihre Erfüllungsgehilfen um 6 Uhr morgens im Türrahmen, nehmen Mobiltelefon und Laptop mit, betreiben De-Banking und vernichten die wirtschaftliche Existenz.

Und ja, es gibt Tage, da fühlt man sich trotzdem wie im Informationsgefängnis. Das hängt von der Tageskondition ab. Der öffentlich-rechtliche Rundfunk ist die Gefängnisküche. Zubereitet werden fade Speisen mit sich ständig wiederholenden Zutaten. Heraus kommt ein Gericht, eine Pampe, wie die tagesschau. LAAAANGWEILIG!

Man glaubt, Informationen und kritische Äußerungen gegenüber dem Mainstream-Einheitsbrei bleiben in den Gefängnismauern, der Blase, schaffen es nicht über die Mauer nach draußen, in die vermeintliche Freiheit. Neue Erkenntnisse werden nur innerhalb der Mauern weitergegeben. Ein neuer Kanal, steigende Abonnenten. Doch wer sind die? Welche von da draußen, in der sogenannten Freiheit, oder doch wieder immer dieselben üblichen Verdächtigen? Die da draußen haben uns doch schon längst geblockt oder gleich gelöscht. Mit Gedankenverbrechern will man nichts zu tun haben.

Hallo, ihr da draußen: Wir sind unschuldig. Unser einziges Verbrechen ist, dass wir Informationen verbreiten, die euch da draußen nicht gefallen, weil sie euch nicht in den Kram passen. Für euch sind wir eine Bedrohung, weil diese Informationen auf euch weltbilderschütternd wirken. Wir sprechen das aus, was viele sich nicht einmal trauen zu denken. Ihr habt Angst vor der Freiheit. Nicht wir sitzen ein, sondern ihr. In einem Freiluft-Gefängnis. Wir decken die Lügen auf, die da draußen, außerhalb der Mauern verbreitet werden. Wir sind nicht die Erfinder der Lügen, sondern nur die Überbringer der schlechten Botschaften.

Es ist leichter Menschen zu lieben, von denen man belogen wird, als Menschen zu lieben, die einem sagen, dass man belogen wird.

Mit aller Kraft wird versucht, die Menschen in Einzelhaft zu setzen. In der Summe ist das die gesellschaftliche Spaltung. Gleichzeitig wird an den Zusammenhalt appelliert, obwohl man genau das Gegenteil davon vorantreibt.

Es geht auch nicht um Mitleid. Es geht um das Verdeutlichen der vorhandenen medialen Axt, mit der ganze Nationen in zwei Teile zerhackt werden. Auf politischer Ebene wird viel dafür getan, dass sich das auch ja nicht ändert. Ein Volk in Angst ist gut zu regieren. Teile und herrsche. Die Sprüche können wir alle schon rückwärts auf der Blockflöte pfeifen.

An den vier Ecken des Informations-Gefängnisses stehen Wachtürme, mit Wärtern, ausgebildet vom DSA, vom Digital Services Act, finanziert vom Wahrheitsministerium, dass ständig aktualisierend darüber befindet, was heute gerade aktuell als „Hass und Hetze“ en vogue ist. Es kommt eben immer darauf an, wer diese Begriffe aus der bisher dunkelsten Zeit in der deutschen Geschichte benutzt. Das hatten wir alles schon einmal. Das brauchen wir nicht mehr!

Schon in der Bibel steht das Gebot: Du sollst nicht lügen. Da steht nicht: Lügen verboten! Das Titelbild gehört leider auch zur deutschen Vergangenheit. Ist es jetzt schon verboten, darauf hinzuweisen, dass sich so etwas nicht wiederholen darf? Und in einer Demokratie, die eine sein will, schon gar nicht. Eine Demokratie, die keine ist, wenn die Meinungsfreiheit beschnitten wird und selbsternannte Experten meinen darüber entscheiden zu müssen, was als wahr und was als Lüge einzustufen ist. Die Vorgabe von Meinungs-Korridoren delegitimieren das Recht, seine Meinung frei äußern zu dürfen. In einer funktionierenden Demokratie dürfte sogar gelogen werden. Jedem, der noch zwei gesunde Gehirnzellen im Kopf hat, sollte doch klar sein, dass all das erbärmliche Versuche sind, sich mit allen Mitteln an der Macht festzuklammern.

Noch einmal zurück zur anfänglichen Metapher. So lange wir leben, befinden wir uns in einem fließenden Prozess. Nichts ist in Stein gemeißelt, nichts hält für immer. Betrachtet man die jüngste Vergangenheit als einen lebendigen Prozess, der noch nicht abgeschlossen ist, der sich ständig weiterentwickelt, dann ist all dieser Wahnsinn der Regen, der bei Frost zu Eis wird und die Mauer immer maroder macht. Die Temperaturen gehen wieder über Null, das Eis taut auf, das Wasser versickert, der nächste Regen, der nächste Frost. Alles neigt dazu kaputt zu gehen.

Wir brauchen eigentlich nur zu warten, während wir fleißig weiter Erkenntnisse sammeln und dabei zusehen, wie ein Frost nach dem anderen, in Form von immer neuen und weiteren Informationen, die all die Lügen zu Corona und den aktuellen Kriegen in der Welt, die Gefängnismauer früher oder später zum Einsturz bringen wird. Und das ist wirklich so sicher, wie das Amen in der Kirche. Die Wahrheit hat immer gesiegt!

Und wenn der Damm erst einmal gebrochen ist, das Wasser schwappt bereits über die Staumauer, dann wird sich die Wahrheit wie ein Sturzbach über die Menschen ergießen. Manche wird sie mitreißen, Schicksal, wir haben genug Rettungsboote ausgesetzt in den letzten Jahren.

Spricht so ein pessimistischer Optimist mit realistischen Tendenzen?

Ihr da draußen, macht nur so weiter. Immer mehr von demselben, und fleißig weiter wundern, dass nichts anderes dabei herauskommt. Überall ist bereits euer eigenes Sägen zu hören, an dem Ast, auf dem ihr selber sitzt. Mit verschränkten Armen, leichtgeneigtem Kopf und einem Schmunzeln auf den Lippen schauen wir dabei zu und fragen uns, wie lange der Ast wohl noch halten wird und wann es kracht. Wir können warten!

Dieser Artikel wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben

* *

(Bild von pixabay)

@ df478568:2a951e67

If you've made one single-sig bitcoin wallet, you've made then all. The idea is, write down 12 or 24 magic words. Make your wallet disappear by dropping your phone in the toilet. Repeat the 12 magic words and do some hocus-pocus. Your sats re-appear from realms unknown. Or...Each word represents a 4 digit number from 0000-2047. I say it's magic.

I've recommended many wallets over the years. It's difficult to find the perfect wallet because there are so many with different security tailored for different threat models. You don't need Anchorwatch level of security for 1000 sats. 12 words is good enough. Misty Breez is like Aqua Wallet because the sats get swapped to Liquid in a similar way with a couple differences.

1. Misty Breez has no stableshitcoin¹ support.
2. Misty Breez gives you a lightning address. Misty Breez Lightning Wallet.

That's a big deal. That's what I need to orange pill the man on the corner selling tamales out of his van. Bitcoin is for everybody, at least anybody who can write 12 words down. A few years ago, almost nobody, not even many bitcoiners had a lightning address. Now Misty Breez makes it easy for anyone with a 5th grade reading level to start using lightning addresses. The tamale guy can send sats back home with as many tariffs as a tweet without leaving his truck.

How Misty Breez Works

Back in the day, I drooled over every word Elizabeth Stark at lightning labs uttered. I still believed in shitcoins at the time. Stark said atomic swaps can be made over the lightning network. Litecoin, since it also adopted the lightning network, can be swapped with bitcoin and vice-versa. I thought this was a good idea because it solves the coincidence of wants. I could technically have a sign on my website that says, "shitcoin accepted here" and automatically convert all my shitcoins to sats.

I don't do that because I now know there is no reason to think any shitcoin will go up in value over the long-term for various reasons. Technically, cashu is a shitcoin. Technically, Liquid is a shitcoin. Technically, I am not a card carrying bitcoin maxi because of this. I use these shitcoins because I find them useful. I consider them to be honest shitcoins(term stolen from NVK²).

Breeze does ~atomic swaps~~ peer swaps between bitcoin and Liquid. The sender sends sats. The receiver turns those sats into Liquid Bitcoin(L-BTC). This L-BTC is backed by bitcoin, therefore Liquid is a full reserve bank in many ways. That's why it molds into my ethical framework. I originally became interested in bitcoin because I thought fractional reserve banking was a scam and bitcoin was(and is) the most viable alternative to this scam.

Sats sent to Misty Breez wallet are pretty secure. It does not offer perfect security. There is no perfect security. Even though on-chain bitcoin is the most pristine example of cybersecurity on the planet, it still has risk. Just ask the guy who is digging up a landfill to find his bitcoin. I have found most noobs lose keys to bitcoin you give them. Very few take the time to keep it safe because they don't understand bitcoin well enough to know it will go up forever Laura.

She writes 12 words down with a reluctant bored look on her face. Wam. Bam. Thank you m'am. Might as well consider it a donation to the network because that index card will be buried in a pile of future trash in no time. Here's a tiny violin playing for the pre-coiners who lost sats.

"Lost coins only make everyone else's coins worth slightly more. Think of it as a donation to everyone." --Sathoshi Nakamoto, BitcoinTalk --June 21, 2010

The same thing will happen with the Misty Wallet. The 12 words will be written down my someone bored and unfulfilled woman working at NPC-Mart, but her phone buzzes in her pocket the next day. She recieved a new payment. Then you share the address on nostr and five people send her sats for no reason at all. They say everyone requires three touch points. Setting up a pre-coiner with a wallet which has a lightning address will allow you to send her as many touch points as you want. You could even send 21 sats per day for 21 days using Zap Planner. That way bitcoin is not just an "investment," but something people can see in action like a lion in the jungle chasing a gazelle.

Make Multiple Orange Pill Touch Points With Misty The Breez Lightning Address

It's no longer just a one-night stand. It's a relationship. You can softly send her sats seven days a week like a Rabbit Hole recap listening freak. Show people how to use bitcoin as it was meant to be used: Peer to Peer electronic cash. Misty wallet is still beta software so be careful because lightning is still in the w reckless days. Don't risk more sats that you are willing to lose with it just yet, but consider learning how to use it so you can teach others after the wallet is battle tested. I had trouble sending sats to my lightning address today from Phoenix wallet. Hopefully that gets resovled, but I couldn't use it today for whatever reason. I still think it's an awesome idea and will follow this project because I think it has potential.

npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0

¹ Stablecoins are shitcoins, but I admit they are not totally useless, but the underlying asset is the epitome of money printer go brrrrrr. ²NVK called cashu an honeset shitcoin on the Bitcoin.review podcast and I've used the term ever sense.

@ 6e64b83c:94102ee8

How to Run Your Own Nostr Relay on Android with Cloudflare Domain

Prerequisites

1. Install Citrine on your Android device:
2. Visit https://github.com/greenart7c3/Citrine/releases
3. Download the latest release using:
   • zap.store
   • Obtainium
   • F-Droid
   • Or download the APK directly

4. Note: You may need to enable "Install from Unknown Sources" in your Android settings

5. Domain Requirements:

6. Purchase a domain if you don't have one

7. Transfer your domain to Cloudflare if it's not already there (for free SSL certificates and cloudflared support)

8. Tools to use:

9. nak (the nostr army knife):
   • Download from https://github.com/fiatjaf/nak/releases
   • Installation steps:

   • For Linux/macOS: ```bash # Download the appropriate version for your system wget https://github.com/fiatjaf/nak/releases/latest/download/nak-linux-amd64 # for Linux # or wget https://github.com/fiatjaf/nak/releases/latest/download/nak-darwin-amd64 # for macOS

     # Make it executable chmod +x nak-*

     # Move to a directory in your PATH sudo mv nak-* /usr/local/bin/nak - For Windows:batch # Download the Windows version curl -L -o nak.exe https://github.com/fiatjaf/nak/releases/latest/download/nak-windows-amd64.exe

     # Move to a directory in your PATH (e.g., C:\Windows) move nak.exe C:\Windows\nak.exe - Verify installation:bash nak --version ```

Setting Up Citrine

1. Open the Citrine app
2. Start the server
3. You'll see it running on ws://127.0.0.1:4869 (local network only)
4. Go to settings and paste your npub into "Accept events signed by" inbox and press the + button. This prevents others from publishing events to your personal relay.

Installing Required Tools

1. Install Termux from Google Play Store
2. Open Termux and run:

bash pkg update && pkg install wget wget https://github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared/releases/latest/download/cloudflared-linux-arm64.deb dpkg -i cloudflared-linux-arm64.deb

Cloudflare Authentication

1. Run the authentication command: bash cloudflared tunnel login
2. Follow the instructions:
3. Copy the provided URL to your browser
4. Log in to your Cloudflare account
5. If the URL expires, copy it again after logging in

Creating the Tunnel

1. Create a new tunnel: bash cloudflared tunnel create <TUNNEL_NAME>
2. Choose any name you prefer for your tunnel

3. Copy the tunnel ID after creating the tunnel

4. Create and configure the tunnel config: bash touch ~/.cloudflared/config.yml nano ~/.cloudflared/config.yml

5. Add this configuration (replace the placeholders with your values): ```yaml tunnel: credentials-file: /data/data/com.termux/files/home/.cloudflared/.json ingress:

6. hostname: nostr.yourdomain.com service: ws://localhost:4869
7. service: http_status:404 ```
8. Note: In nano editor:
   • CTRL+O and Enter to save
   • CTRL+X to exit

9. Note: Check the credentials file path in the logs

10. Validate your configuration: bash cloudflared tunnel validate

11. Start the tunnel: bash cloudflared tunnel run my-relay

Preventing Android from Killing the Tunnel

Run these commands to maintain tunnel stability: bash date && apt install termux-tools && termux-setup-storage && termux-wake-lock echo "nameserver 1.1.1.1" > $PREFIX/etc/resolv.conf

Tip: You can open multiple Termux sessions by swiping from the left edge of the screen while keeping your tunnel process running.

Updating Your Outbox Model Relays

Once your relay is running and accessible via your domain, you'll want to update your relay list in the Nostr network. This ensures other clients know about your relay and can connect to it.

Decoding npub (Public Key)

Private keys (nsec) and public keys (npub) are encoded in bech32 format, which includes: - A prefix (like nsec1, npub1 etc.) - The encoded data - A checksum

This format makes keys: - Easy to distinguish - Hard to copy incorrectly

However, most tools require these keys in hexadecimal (hex) format.

To decode an npub string to its hex format:

bash nak decode nostr:npub1dejts0qlva8mqzjlrxqkc2tmvs2t7elszky5upxaf3jha9qs9m5q605uc4

Change it with your own npub.

bash { "pubkey": "6e64b83c1f674fb00a5f19816c297b6414bf67f015894e04dd4c657e94102ee8" }

Copy the pubkey value in quotes.

Create a kind 10002 event with your relay list:

• Include your new relay with write permissions
• Include other relays you want to read from and write to, omit 3rd parameter to make it both read and write

Example format:

json { "kind": 10002, "tags": [ ["r", "wss://your-relay-domain.com", "write"], ["r", "wss://eden.nostr.land/"], ["r", "wss://nos.lol/"], ["r", "wss://nostr.bitcoiner.social/"], ["r", "wss://nostr.mom/"], ["r", "wss://relay.primal.net/"], ["r", "wss://nostr.wine/", "read"], ["r", "wss://relay.damus.io/"], ["r", "wss://relay.nostr.band/"], ["r", "wss://relay.snort.social/"] ], "content": "" }

Save it to a file called event.json

Note: Add or remove any relays you want. To check your existing 10002 relays: - Visit https://nostr.band/?q=by%3Anpub1dejts0qlva8mqzjlrxqkc2tmvs2t7elszky5upxaf3jha9qs9m5q605uc4+++kind%3A10002 - nostr.band is an indexing service, it probably has your relay list. - Replace npub1xxx in the URL with your own npub - Click "VIEW JSON" from the menu to see the raw event - Or use the nak tool if you know the relays bash nak req -k 10002 -a <your-pubkey> wss://relay1.com wss://relay2.com

Replace `<your-pubkey>` with your public key in hex format (you can get it using `nak decode <your-npub>`)

1. Sign and publish the event:
2. Use a Nostr client that supports kind 10002 events
3. Or use the nak command-line tool: bash nak event --sec ncryptsec1... wss://relay1.com wss://relay2.com $(cat event.json)

Important Security Notes: 1. Never share your nsec (private key) with anyone 2. Consider using NIP-49 encrypted keys for better security 3. Never paste your nsec or private key into the terminal. The command will be saved in your shell history, exposing your private key. To clear the command history: - For bash: use history -c - For zsh: use fc -W to write history to file, then fc -p to read it back - Or manually edit your shell history file (e.g., ~/.zsh_history or ~/.bash_history) 4. if you're using zsh, use fc -p to prevent the next command from being saved to history 5. Or temporarily disable history before running sensitive commands:

bash unset HISTFILE nak key encrypt ... set HISTFILE

How to securely create NIP-49 encypted private key

```bash

Read your private key (input will be hidden)

read -s SECRET

Read your password (input will be hidden)

read -s PASSWORD

encrypt command

echo "$SECRET" | nak key encrypt "$PASSWORD"

copy and paste the ncryptsec1 text from the output

read -s ENCRYPTED nak key decrypt "$ENCRYPTED"

clear variables from memory

unset SECRET PASSWORD ENCRYPTED ```

On a Windows command line, to read from stdin and use the variables in nak commands, you can use a combination of set /p to read input and then use those variables in your command. Here's an example:

```bash @echo off set /p "SECRET=Enter your secret key: " set /p "PASSWORD=Enter your password: "

echo %SECRET%| nak key encrypt %PASSWORD%

:: Clear the sensitive variables set "SECRET=" set "PASSWORD=" ```

If your key starts with ncryptsec1, the nak tool will securely prompt you for a password when using the --sec parameter, unless the command is used with a pipe < > or |.

bash nak event --sec ncryptsec1... wss://relay1.com wss://relay2.com $(cat event.json)

1. Verify the event was published:
2. Check if your relay list is visible on other relays

3. Use the nak tool to fetch your kind 10002 events: bash nak req -k 10002 -a <your-pubkey> wss://relay1.com wss://relay2.com

4. Testing your relay:

5. Try connecting to your relay using different Nostr clients
6. Verify you can both read from and write to your relay
7. Check if events are being properly stored and retrieved
8. Tip: Use multiple Nostr clients to test different aspects of your relay

Note: If anyone in the community has a more efficient method of doing things like updating outbox relays, please share your insights in the comments. Your expertise would be greatly appreciated!

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

A Look into Traffic Analysis and What WebSocket Patterns Reveal at the Network Level

While WebSocket encryption (typically via WSS) is essential for protecting data in transit, traffic analysis remains a potent method of uncovering behavioral patterns, data structure inference, and protocol usage—even when payloads are unreadable. This idea investigates the visibility of encrypted WebSocket communications using Wireshark and similar packet inspection tools. We explore what metadata remains visible, how traffic flow can be modeled, and what risks and opportunities exist for developers, penetration testers, and network analysts. The study concludes by discussing mitigation strategies and the implications for privacy, application security, and protocol design.

Consider

In the age of real-time web applications, WebSockets have emerged as a powerful protocol enabling low-latency, bidirectional communication. From collaborative tools and chat applications to financial trading platforms and IoT dashboards, WebSockets have become foundational for interactive user experiences.

However, encryption via WSS (WebSocket Secure, running over TLS) gives developers and users a sense of security. The payload may be unreadable, but what about the rest of the connection? Can patterns, metadata, and traffic characteristics still leak critical information?

This thesis seeks to answer those questions by leveraging Wireshark, the de facto tool for packet inspection, and exploring the world of traffic analysis at the network level.

Background and Related Work

The WebSocket Protocol

Defined in RFC 6455, WebSocket operates over TCP and provides a persistent, full-duplex connection. The protocol upgrades an HTTP connection, then communicates through a simple frame-based structure.

Encryption with WSS

WSS connections use TLS (usually on port 443), making them indistinguishable from HTTPS traffic at the packet level. Payloads are encrypted, but metadata such as IP addresses, timing, packet size, and connection duration remain visible.

Traffic Analysis

Traffic analysis—despite encryption—has long been a technique used in network forensics, surveillance, and malware detection. Prior studies have shown that encrypted protocols like HTTPS, TLS, and SSH still reveal behavioral information through patterns.

Methodology

Tools Used:

• Wireshark (latest stable version)
• TLS decryption with local keys (when permitted)
• Simulated and real-world WebSocket apps (chat, games, IoT dashboards)
• Scripts to generate traffic patterns (Python using websockets and aiohttp)

Test Environments:

• Controlled LAN environments with known server and client
• Live observation of open-source WebSocket platforms (e.g., Matrix clients)

Data Points Captured:

• Packet timing and size
• TLS handshake details
• IP/TCP headers
• Frame burst patterns
• Message rate and directionality

Findings

1. Metadata Leaks

Even without payload access, the following data is visible: - Source/destination IP - Port numbers (typically 443) - Server certificate info - Packet sizes and intervals - TLS handshake fingerprinting (e.g., JA3 hashes)

2. Behavioral Patterns

• Chat apps show consistent message frequency and short message sizes.
• Multiplayer games exhibit rapid bursts of small packets.
• IoT devices often maintain idle connections with periodic keepalives.
• Typing indicators, heartbeats, or "ping/pong" mechanisms are visible even under encryption.

3. Timing and Packet Size Fingerprinting

Even encrypted payloads can be fingerprinted by: - Regularity in payload size (e.g., 92 bytes every 15s) - Distinct bidirectional patterns (e.g., send/ack/send per user action) - TLS record sizes which may indirectly hint at message length

Side-Channel Risks in Encrypted WebSocket Communication

Although WebSocket payloads transmitted over WSS (WebSocket Secure) are encrypted, they remain susceptible to side-channel analysis, a class of attacks that exploit observable characteristics of the communication channel rather than its content.

Side-Channel Risks Include:

1. User Behavior Inference
Adversaries can analyze packet timing and frequency to infer user behavior. For example, typing indicators in chat applications often trigger short, regular packets. Even without payload visibility, a passive observer may identify when a user is typing, idle, or has closed the application. Session duration, message frequency, and bursts of activity can be linked to specific user actions.

2. Application Fingerprinting
TLS handshake metadata and consistent traffic patterns can allow an observer to identify specific client libraries or platforms. For example, the sequence and structure of TLS extensions (via JA3 fingerprinting) can differentiate between browsers, SDKs, or WebSocket frameworks. Application behavior—such as timing of keepalives or frequency of updates—can further reinforce these fingerprints.

3. Usage Pattern Recognition
Over time, recurring patterns in packet flow may reveal application logic. For instance, multiplayer game sessions often involve predictable synchronization intervals. Financial dashboards may show bursts at fixed polling intervals. This allows for profiling of application type, logic loops, or even user roles.

4. Leakage Through Timing
Time-based attacks can be surprisingly revealing. Regular intervals between message bursts can disclose structured interactions—such as polling, pings, or scheduled updates. Fine-grained timing analysis may even infer when individual keystrokes occur, especially in sparse channels where interactivity is high and payloads are short.

5. Content Length Correlation
While encrypted, the size of a TLS record often correlates closely to the plaintext message length. This enables attackers to estimate the size of messages, which can be linked to known commands or data structures. Repeated message sizes (e.g., 112 bytes every 30s) may suggest state synchronization or batched updates.

6. Session Correlation Across Time
Using IP, JA3 fingerprints, and behavioral metrics, it’s possible to link multiple sessions back to the same client. This weakens anonymity, especially when combined with data from DNS logs, TLS SNI fields (if exposed), or consistent traffic habits. In anonymized systems, this can be particularly damaging.

Side-Channel Risks in Encrypted WebSocket Communication

Although WebSocket payloads transmitted over WSS (WebSocket Secure) are encrypted, they remain susceptible to side-channel analysis, a class of attacks that exploit observable characteristics of the communication channel rather than its content.

1. Behavior Inference

Even with end-to-end encryption, adversaries can make educated guesses about user actions based on traffic patterns:

• Typing detection: In chat applications, short, repeated packets every few hundred milliseconds may indicate a user typing.
• Voice activity: In VoIP apps using WebSockets, a series of consistent-size packets followed by silence can reveal when someone starts and stops speaking.
• Gaming actions: Packet bursts at high frequency may correlate with real-time game movement or input actions.

2. Session Duration

WebSocket connections are persistent by design. This characteristic allows attackers to:

• Measure session duration: Knowing how long a user stays connected to a WebSocket server can infer usage patterns (e.g., average chat duration, work hours).
• Identify session boundaries: Connection start and end timestamps may be enough to correlate with user login/logout behavior.

3. Usage Patterns

Over time, traffic analysis may reveal consistent behavioral traits tied to specific users or devices:

• Time-of-day activity: Regular connection intervals can point to habitual usage, ideal for profiling or surveillance.
• Burst frequency and timing: Distinct intervals of high or low traffic volume can hint at backend logic or user engagement models.

---

Example Scenario: Encrypted Chat App

Even though a chat application uses end-to-end encryption and transports data over WSS:

• A passive observer sees:
• TLS handshake metadata
• IPs and SNI (Server Name Indication)
• Packet sizes and timings
• They might then infer:
• When a user is online or actively chatting
• Whether a user is typing, idle, or receiving messages
• Usage patterns that match a specific user fingerprint

This kind of intelligence can be used for traffic correlation attacks, profiling, or deanonymization — particularly dangerous in regimes or situations where privacy is critical (e.g., journalists, whistleblowers, activists).

Fingerprinting Encrypted WebSocket Applications via Traffic Signatures

Even when payloads are encrypted, adversaries can leverage fingerprinting techniques to identify the specific WebSocket libraries, frameworks, or applications in use based on unique traffic signatures. This is a critical vector in traffic analysis, especially when full encryption lulls developers into a false sense of security.

1. Library and Framework Fingerprints

Different WebSocket implementations generate traffic patterns that can be used to infer what tool or framework is being used, such as:

• Handshake patterns: The WebSocket upgrade request often includes headers that differ subtly between:
• Browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
• Python libs (websockets, aiohttp, Autobahn)
• Node.js clients (ws, socket.io)
• Mobile SDKs (Android’s okhttp, iOS Starscream)
• Heartbeat intervals: Some libraries implement default ping/pong intervals (e.g., every 20s in socket.io) that can be measured and traced back to the source.

2. Payload Size and Frequency Patterns

Even with encryption, metadata is exposed:

• Frame sizes: Libraries often chunk or batch messages differently.
• Initial message burst: Some apps send a known sequence of messages on connection (e.g., auth token → subscribe → sync events).
• Message intervals: Unique to libraries using structured pub/sub or event-driven APIs.

These observable patterns can allow a passive observer to identify not only the app but potentially which feature is being used, such as messaging, location tracking, or media playback.

3. Case Study: Identifying Socket.IO vs Raw WebSocket

Socket.IO, although layered on top of WebSockets, introduces a handshake sequence of HTTP polling → upgrade → packetized structured messaging with preamble bytes (even in encrypted form, the size and frequency of these frames is recognizable). A well-equipped observer can differentiate it from a raw WebSocket exchange using only timing and packet length metrics.

---

Security Implications

• Targeted exploitation: Knowing the backend framework (e.g., Django Channels or FastAPI + websockets) allows attackers to narrow down known CVEs or misconfigurations.
• De-anonymization: Apps that are widely used in specific demographics (e.g., Signal clones, activist chat apps) become fingerprintable even behind HTTPS or WSS.
• Nation-state surveillance: Traffic fingerprinting lets governments block or monitor traffic associated with specific technologies, even without decrypting the data.

Leakage Through Timing: Inferring Behavior in Encrypted WebSocket Channels

Encrypted WebSocket communication does not prevent timing-based side-channel attacks, where an adversary can deduce sensitive information purely from the timing, size, and frequency of encrypted packets. These micro-behavioral signals, though not revealing actual content, can still disclose high-level user actions — sometimes with alarming precision.

1. Typing Detection and Keystroke Inference

Many real-time chat applications (Matrix, Signal, Rocket.Chat, custom WebSocket apps) implement "user is typing..." features. These generate recognizable message bursts even when encrypted:

• Small, frequent packets sent at irregular intervals often correspond to individual keystrokes.
• Inter-keystroke timing analysis — often accurate to within tens of milliseconds — can help reconstruct typed messages’ length or even guess content using language models (e.g., inferring "hello" vs "hey").

2. Session Activity Leaks

WebSocket sessions are long-lived and often signal usage states by packet rhythm:

• Idle vs active user patterns become apparent through heartbeat frequency and packet gaps.
• Transitions — like joining or leaving a chatroom, starting a video, or activating a voice stream — often result in bursts of packet activity.
• Even without payload access, adversaries can profile session structure, determining which features are being used and when.

3. Case Study: Real-Time Editors

Collaborative editing tools (e.g., Etherpad, CryptPad) leak structure:

• When a user edits, each keystroke or operation may result in a burst of 1–3 WebSocket frames.
• Over time, a passive observer could infer:
• Whether one or multiple users are active
• Who is currently typing
• The pace of typing
• Collaborative vs solo editing behavior

4. Attack Vectors Enabled by Timing Leaks

• Target tracking: Identify active users in a room, even on anonymized or end-to-end encrypted platforms.
• Session replay: Attackers can simulate usage patterns for further behavioral fingerprinting.
• Network censorship: Governments may block traffic based on WebSocket behavior patterns suggestive of forbidden apps (e.g., chat tools, Tor bridges).

---

Mitigations and Countermeasures

While timing leakage cannot be entirely eliminated, several techniques can obfuscate or dampen signal strength:

• Uniform packet sizing (padding to fixed lengths)
• Traffic shaping (constant-time message dispatch)
• Dummy traffic injection (noise during idle states)
• Multiplexing WebSocket streams with unrelated activity

Excellent point — let’s weave that into the conclusion of the thesis to emphasize the dual nature of WebSocket visibility:

---

Visibility Without Clarity — Privacy Risks in Encrypted WebSocket Traffic**

This thesis demonstrates that while encryption secures the contents of WebSocket payloads, it does not conceal behavioral patterns. Through tools like Wireshark, analysts — and adversaries alike — can inspect traffic flows to deduce session metadata, fingerprint applications, and infer user activity, even without decrypting a single byte.

The paradox of encrypted WebSockets is thus revealed:
They offer confidentiality, but not invisibility.

As shown through timing analysis, fingerprinting, and side-channel observation, encrypted WebSocket streams can still leak valuable information. These findings underscore the importance of privacy-aware design choices in real-time systems:

• Padding variable-size messages to fixed-length formats
• Randomizing or shaping packet timing
• Mixing in dummy traffic during idle states
• Multiplexing unrelated data streams to obscure intent

Without such obfuscation strategies, encrypted WebSocket traffic — though unreadable — remains interpretable.

In closing, developers, privacy researchers, and protocol designers must recognize that encryption is necessary but not sufficient. To build truly private real-time systems, we must move beyond content confidentiality and address the metadata and side-channel exposures that lie beneath the surface.

Absolutely! Here's a full thesis-style writeup titled “Mitigation Strategies: Reducing Metadata Leakage in Encrypted WebSocket Traffic”, focusing on countermeasures to side-channel risks in real-time encrypted communication:

---

Mitigation Strategies: Reducing Metadata Leakage in Encrypted WebSocket Traffic

Abstract

While WebSocket traffic is often encrypted using TLS, it remains vulnerable to metadata-based side-channel attacks. Adversaries can infer behavioral patterns, session timing, and even the identity of applications through passive traffic analysis. This thesis explores four key mitigation strategies—message padding, batching and jitter, TLS fingerprint randomization, and connection multiplexing—that aim to reduce the efficacy of such analysis. We present practical implementations, limitations, and trade-offs associated with each method and advocate for layered, privacy-preserving protocol design.

---

1. Consider

The rise of WebSockets in real-time applications has improved interactivity but also exposed new privacy attack surfaces. Even when encrypted, WebSocket traffic leaks observable metadata—packet sizes, timing intervals, handshake properties, and connection counts—that can be exploited for fingerprinting, behavioral inference, and usage profiling.

This Idea focuses on mitigation rather than detection. The core question addressed is: How can we reduce the information available to adversaries from metadata alone?

---

2. Threat Model and Metadata Exposure

Passive attackers situated at any point between client and server can: - Identify application behavior via timing and message frequency - Infer keystrokes or user interaction states ("user typing", "user joined", etc.) - Perform fingerprinting via TLS handshake characteristics - Link separate sessions from the same user by recognizing traffic patterns

Thus, we must treat metadata as a leaky abstraction layer, requiring proactive obfuscation even in fully encrypted sessions.

---

3. Mitigation Techniques

3.1 Message Padding

Variable-sized messages create unique traffic signatures. Message padding involves standardizing the frame length of WebSocket messages to a fixed or randomly chosen size within a predefined envelope.

• Pro: Hides exact payload size, making compression side-channel and length-based analysis ineffective.
• Con: Increases bandwidth usage; not ideal for mobile/low-bandwidth scenarios.

Implementation: Client libraries can pad all outbound messages to, for example, 512 bytes or the next power of two above the actual message length.

---

3.2 Batching and Jitter

Packet timing is often the most revealing metric. Delaying messages to create jitter and batching multiple events into a single transmission breaks correlation patterns.

• Pro: Prevents timing attacks, typing inference, and pattern recognition.
• Con: Increases latency, possibly degrading UX in real-time apps.

Implementation: Use an event queue with randomized intervals for dispatching messages (e.g., 100–300ms jitter windows).

---

3.3 TLS Fingerprint Randomization

TLS fingerprints—determined by the ordering of cipher suites, extensions, and fields—can uniquely identify client libraries and platforms. Randomizing these fields on the client side prevents reliable fingerprinting.

• Pro: Reduces ability to correlate sessions or identify tools/libraries used.
• Con: Requires deeper control of the TLS stack, often unavailable in browsers.

Implementation: Modify or wrap lower-level TLS clients (e.g., via OpenSSL or rustls) to introduce randomized handshakes in custom apps.

---

3.4 Connection Reuse or Multiplexing

Opening multiple connections creates identifiable patterns. By reusing a single persistent connection for multiple data streams or users (in proxies or edge nodes), the visibility of unique flows is reduced.

• Pro: Aggregates traffic, preventing per-user or per-feature traffic separation.
• Con: More complex server-side logic; harder to debug.

Implementation: Use multiplexing protocols (e.g., WebSocket subprotocols or application-level routing) to share connections across users or components.

---

4. Combined Strategy and Defense-in-Depth

No single strategy suffices. A layered mitigation approach—combining padding, jitter, fingerprint randomization, and multiplexing—provides defense-in-depth against multiple classes of metadata leakage.

The recommended implementation pipeline: 1. Pad all outbound messages to a fixed size 2. Introduce random batching and delay intervals 3. Obfuscate TLS fingerprints using low-level TLS stack configuration 4. Route data over multiplexed WebSocket connections via reverse proxies or edge routers

This creates a high-noise communication channel that significantly impairs passive traffic analysis.

---

5. Limitations and Future Work

Mitigations come with trade-offs: latency, bandwidth overhead, and implementation complexity. Additionally, some techniques (e.g., TLS randomization) are hard to apply in browser-based environments due to API constraints.

Future work includes: - Standardizing privacy-enhancing WebSocket subprotocols - Integrating these mitigations into mainstream libraries (e.g., Socket.IO, Phoenix) - Using machine learning to auto-tune mitigation levels based on threat environment

---

6. Case In Point

Encrypted WebSocket traffic is not inherently private. Without explicit mitigation, metadata alone is sufficient for behavioral profiling and application fingerprinting. This thesis has outlined practical strategies for obfuscating traffic patterns at various protocol layers. Implementing these defenses can significantly improve user privacy in real-time systems and should become a standard part of secure WebSocket deployments.

@ 4c96d763:80c3ee30

Changes

William Casarin (28):

• dave: constrain power for now
• ci: bump ubuntu runner
• dave: initial note rendering
• note: fix from_hex crash on bad note ids
• dave: improve multi-note display
• dave: cleanly separate ui from logic
• dave: add a few docs
• dave: add readme
• dave: improve docs with ai
• docs: add some ui-related guides
• docs: remove test hallucination
• docs: add tokenator docs
• docs: add notedeck docs
• docs: add notedeck_columns readme
• docs: add notedeck_chrome docs
• docs: improve top-level docs
• dave: add new chat button
• dave: ensure system prompt is included when reset
• enostr: rename to_bech to npub
• name: display_name before name in NostrName
• ui: add note truncation
• ui: add ProfilePic::from_profile_or_default
• dave: add query rendering, fix author queries
• dave: return tool errors back to the ai
• dave: give present notes a proper tool response
• dave: more flexible env config
• dave: bubble note actions to chrome
• chrome: use actual columns noteaction executor

kernelkind (13):

• remove unnecessary #[allow(dead_code)]
• extend ZapAction
• UserAccount use builder pattern
• Wallet token parser shouldn't parse all
• move WalletState to UI
• add default zap
• introduce ZapWallet
• use ZapWallet
• propagate DefaultZapState to wallet ui
• wallet: helper method to get current wallet
• accounts: check if selected account has wallet
• ui: show default zap amount in wallet view
• use default zap amount for zap

pushed to notedeck:refs/heads/master

@ e516ecb8:1be0b167

¡Muy bien, amigo! Vamos a sumergirnos en las profundidades arquetípicas de la psique humana para desentrañar esta noción, esta chispa de sabiduría que intentamos articular, porque, verás, no es una mera declaración trivial, no, no, es una verdad ontológica que reverbera a través de los eones, en los cimientos mismos del Ser.

Permíteme, si me lo permites, desplegar esta idea como si fuera un tapiz mitológico, tejido con los hilos del caos y el orden, porque eso es lo que hacemos cuando nos enfrentamos a la condición humana, ¿no es así? Nos esforzamos por dar sentido al cosmos, por encontrar un faro en la tormenta.

Ahora, consideremos esta proposición: la felicidad, esa efímera mariposa que revolotea en los márgenes de nuestra conciencia, no es, como podrías suponer ingenuamente, el summum bonum, el pináculo de la existencia. No, señor, no lo es. La felicidad es un estado fugaz, una sombra danzante en la caverna platónica, un destello momentáneo que se desvanece en cuanto intentas apresarlo. Es como tratar de agarrar el agua con las manos: cuanto más aprietas, más se escurre. Y aquí está el quid de la cuestión, la médula de la narrativa: perseguir la felicidad como si fuera el telos, el fin último de tu peregrinaje existencial, es una empresa quijotesca, una búsqueda condenada a la futilidad, porque la felicidad no es un destino; es un subproducto, un acompañante caprichoso que aparece y desaparece según los caprichos del destino. Pero entonces, ¿cuál es el antídoto? ¿Cuál es la brújula que orienta al alma en esta travesía a través del desierto de la modernidad? Aquí, amigo mío, es donde debemos invocar el espectro del propósito, esa fuerza titánica, ese Logos encarnado que nos llama a trascender la mera gratificación hedónica y a alinearnos con algo más grande, algo más profundo, algo que resuene con las estructuras arquetípicas que han guiado a la humanidad desde las fogatas de la prehistoria hasta los rascacielos de la posmodernidad. El propósito, verás, no es una abstracción frívola; es el eje alrededor del cual gira la rueda de la vida. Es la carga que eliges llevar voluntariamente, como el héroe mitológico que levanta el mundo sobre sus hombros, no porque sea fácil, sino porque es necesario.

Y no me malinterpretes, porque esto no es un juego de niños. Asumir un propósito es enfrentarte al dragón del caos, es mirar fijamente al abismo y decir: “No me doblegarás”. Es la disposición a soportar el sufrimiento —porque, créeme, el sufrimiento vendrá, tan seguro como el sol sale por el este— y transformarlo en algo redentor, algo que eleve tu existencia más allá de los confines de lo mundano. Porque, ¿qué es la vida sino una serie de tragedias potenciales, una danza perpetua al borde del precipicio? Y sin embargo, en esa danza, en esa lucha, encontramos significado. No es la ausencia de dolor lo que define una vida bien vivida, sino la valentía de avanzar a pesar de él, de construir orden a partir del caos, de erigir un templo de significado en medio de la entropía.

Así que, cuando decimos que la felicidad es pasajera y nuestro objetivo es perseguir un propósito, no estamos simplemente lanzando una frase al éter; estamos articulando una verdad que ha sido destilada a través de milenios de lucha humana, desde los mitos de Gilgamesh hasta las reflexiones de los estoicos, desde las catedrales góticas hasta las bibliotecas de la Ilustración. Es una invitación a reorientar tu brújula interna, a dejar de perseguir el espejismo de la felicidad y, en cambio, abrazar la carga gloriosa del propósito, porque en esa carga, en esa responsabilidad autoimpuesta, encuentras no solo significado, sino la posibilidad de trascendencia. Y eso, amigo mío, es la aventura más noble que un ser humano puede emprender.

@ f32184ee:6d1c17bf

Ads Fueling Freedom

Ross Ulbricht’s "Decentralize Social Media" painted a picture of a user-centric, decentralized future that transcended the limitations of platforms like the tech giants of today. Though focused on social media, his concept provided a blueprint for decentralized content systems writ large. The PROMO Protocol, designed by NextBlock while participating in Sovereign Engineering, embodies this blueprint in the realm of advertising, leveraging Nostr and Bitcoin’s Lightning Network to give individuals control, foster a multi-provider ecosystem, and ensure secure value exchange. In this way, Ulbricht’s 2021 vision can be seen as a prescient prediction of the PROMO Protocol’s structure. This is a testament to the enduring power of his ideas, now finding form in NextBlock’s innovative approach.

[Current Platform-Centric Paradigm, source: Ross Ulbricht's Decentralize Social Media]

Ulbricht’s Vision: A Decentralized Social Protocol

In his 2021 Medium article Ulbricht proposed a revolutionary vision for a decentralized social protocol (DSP) to address the inherent flaws of centralized social media platforms, such as privacy violations and inconsistent content moderation. Writing from prison, Ulbricht argued that decentralization could empower users by giving them control over their own content and the value they create, while replacing single, monolithic platforms with a competitive ecosystem of interface providers, content servers, and advertisers. Though his focus was on social media, Ulbricht’s ideas laid a conceptual foundation that strikingly predicts the structure of NextBlock’s PROMO Protocol, a decentralized advertising system built on the Nostr protocol.

[A Decentralized Social Protocol (DSP), source: Ross Ulbricht's Decentralize Social Media]

Ulbricht’s Principles

Ulbricht’s article outlines several key principles for his DSP: * User Control: Users should own their content and dictate how their data and creations generate value, rather than being subject to the whims of centralized corporations. * Decentralized Infrastructure: Instead of a single platform, multiple interface providers, content hosts, and advertisers interoperate, fostering competition and resilience. * Privacy and Autonomy: Decentralized solutions for profile management, hosting, and interactions would protect user privacy and reduce reliance on unaccountable intermediaries. * Value Creation: Users, not platforms, should capture the economic benefits of their contributions, supported by decentralized mechanisms for transactions.

These ideas were forward-thinking in 2021, envisioning a shift away from the centralized giants dominating social media at the time. While Ulbricht didn’t specifically address advertising protocols, his framework for decentralization and user empowerment extends naturally to other domains, like NextBlock’s open-source offering: the PROMO Protocol.

NextBlock’s Implementation of PROMO Protocol

The PROMO Protocol powers NextBlock's Billboard app, a decentralized advertising protocol built on Nostr, a simple, open protocol for decentralized communication. The PROMO Protocol reimagines advertising by: * Empowering People: Individuals set their own ad prices (e.g., 500 sats/minute), giving them direct control over how their attention or space is monetized. * Marketplace Dynamics: Advertisers set budgets and maximum bids, competing within a decentralized system where a 20% service fee ensures operational sustainability. * Open-Source Flexibility: As an open-source protocol, it allows multiple developers to create interfaces or apps on top of it, avoiding the single-platform bottleneck Ulbricht critiqued. * Secure Payments: Using Strike Integration with Bitcoin Lightning Network, NextBlock enables bot-resistant and intermediary-free transactions, aligning value transfer with each person's control.

This structure decentralizes advertising in a way that mirrors Ulbricht’s broader vision for social systems, with aligned principles showing a specific use case: monetizing attention on Nostr.

Aligned Principles

Ulbricht’s 2021 article didn’t explicitly predict the PROMO Protocol, but its foundational concepts align remarkably well with NextBlock's implementation the protocol’s design: * Autonomy Over Value: Ulbricht argued that users should control their content and its economic benefits. In the PROMO Protocol, people dictate ad pricing, directly capturing the value of their participation. Whether it’s their time, influence, or digital space, rather than ceding it to a centralized ad network. * Ecosystem of Providers: Ulbricht envisioned multiple providers replacing a single platform. The PROMO Protocol’s open-source nature invites a similar diversity: anyone can build interfaces or tools on top of it, creating a competitive, decentralized advertising ecosystem rather than a walled garden. * Decentralized Transactions: Ulbricht’s DSP implied decentralized mechanisms for value exchange. NextBlock delivers this through the Bitcoin Lightning Network, ensuring that payments for ads are secure, instantaneous and final, a practical realization of Ulbricht’s call for user-controlled value flows. * Privacy and Control: While Ulbricht emphasized privacy in social interactions, the PROMO Protocol is public by default. Individuals are fully aware of all data that they generate since all Nostr messages are signed. All participants interact directly via Nostr.

[Blueprint Match, source NextBlock]

---

Who We Are

NextBlock is a US-based new media company reimagining digital ads for a decentralized future. Our founders, software and strategy experts, were hobbyist podcasters struggling to promote their work online without gaming the system. That sparked an idea: using new tech like Nostr and Bitcoin to build a decentralized attention market for people who value control and businesses seeking real connections.

Our first product, Billboard, is launching this June.

Open for All

Our model’s open-source! Check out the PROMO Protocol, built for promotion and attention trading. Anyone can join this decentralized ad network. Run your own billboard or use ours. This is a growing ecosystem for a new ad economy.

Our Vision

NextBlock wants to help build a new decentralized internet. Our revolutionary and transparent business model will bring honest revenue to companies hosting valuable digital spaces. Together, we will discover what our attention is really worth.

Read our Manifesto to learn more.

NextBlock is registered in Texas, USA.

@ 6ad3e2a3:c90b7740

There’s an annoying trend on Twitter wherein the algorithm feeds you a lot of threads like “five keys to gaining wealth” or “10 mistakes to avoid in relationships” that list a bunch of hacks for some ostensibly desirable state of affairs which for you is presumably lacking. It’s not that the hacks are wrong per se, more that the medium is the message. Reading threads about hacks on social media is almost surely not the path toward whatever is promised by them.

. . .

I’ve tried a lot of health supplements over the years. These days creatine is trendy, and of course Vitamin D (which I still take.) I don’t know if this is helping me, though it surely helps me pass my blood tests with robust levels. The more I learn about health and nutrition, the less I’m sure of anything beyond a few basics. Yes, replacing processed food with real food, moving your body and getting some sun are almost certainly good, but it’s harder to know how particular interventions affect me.

Maybe some of them work in the short term then lose their effect, Maybe some work better for particular phenotypes, but not for mine. Maybe my timing in the day is off, or I’m not combining them correctly for my lifestyle and circumstances. The body is a complex system, and complex systems are characterized by having unpredictable outputs given changes to initial conditions (inputs).

. . .

I started getting into Padel recently — a mini-tennis-like game where you can hit the ball off the back walls. I’d much rather chase a ball around for exercise than run or work out, and there’s a social aspect I enjoy. (By “social aspect”, I don’t really mean getting to know the people with whom I’m playing, but just the incidental interactions you get during the game, joking about it, for example, when you nearly impale someone at the net with a hard forehand.)

A few months ago, I was playing with some friends, and I was a little off. It’s embarrassing to play poorly at a sport, especially when (as is always the case in Padel) you have a doubles partner you’re letting down. Normally I’d be excoriating myself for my poor play, coaching myself to bend my knees more, not go for winners so much. But that day, I was tired — for some reason I hadn’t slept well — and I didn’t have the energy for much internal monologue. I just mishit a few balls, felt stupid about it and kept playing.

After a few games, my fortunes reversed. I was hitting the ball cleanly, smashing winners, rarely making errors. My partner and I started winning games and then sets. I was enjoying myself. In the midst of it I remember hitting an easy ball into the net and reflexively wanting to self-coach again. I wondered, “What tips did I give to right the ship when I had been playing poorly at the outset?” I racked my brain as I waited for the serve and realized, to my surprise, there had been none. The turnaround in my play was not due to self-coaching but its absence. I had started playing better because my mind had finally shut the fuck up for once.

Now when I’m not playing well, I resist, to the extent I’m capable, the urge to meddle. I intend to be more mind-less. Not so much telling the interior coach to shut up but not buying into the premise there is a problem to be solved at all. The coach isn’t just ignored, he’s fired. And he’s not just fired, his role was obsoleted.

You blew the point, you’re embarrassed about it and there’s nothing that needs to be done about it. Or that you started coaching yourself like a fool and made things worse. No matter how much you are doing the wrong thing nothing needs to be done about any of it whatsoever. There is always another ball coming across the net that needs to be struck until the game is over.

. . .

Most of the hacks, habits and heuristics we pick up to manage our lives only serve as yet more inputs in unfathomably complex systems whose outputs rarely track as we’d like. There are some basic ones that are now obvious to everyone like not injecting yourself with heroin (or mRNA boosters), but for the most part we just create more baggage for ourselves which justifies ever more hacks. It’s like taking medication for one problem that causes side effects, and then you need another medicine for that side effect, rinse and repeat, ad infinitum.

But this process can be reverse-engineered too. For every heuristic you drop, the problem it was put into place to solve re-emerges and has a chance to be observed. Observing won’t solve it, it’ll just bring it into the fold, give the complex system of which it is a part a chance to achieve an equilibrium with respect to it on its own.

You might still be embarrassed when you mishit the ball, but embarrassment is not a problem. And if embarrassment is not a problem, then mishitting a ball isn’t that bad. And if mishitting a ball isn’t that bad, then maybe you’re not worrying about what happens if you botch the next shot, instead fixing your attention on the ball. And so you disappear a little bit into the game, and it’s more fun as a result.

I honestly wish there were a hack for this — being more mindless — but I don’t know of any. And in any event, hack Substacks won’t get you any farther than hack Twitter threads.

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

I started writing a series on the signs of the End Times and how they align with what we are seeing in the world today. There are some major concerns with predicting the end times, so I decided I should insert a short post on “Can we know when the end times are coming?” Like many principles in the Bible, it takes looking at seemingly contradictory verses to reach the truth.

This Generation

Before I get into “Can we know?” I want to address one point that some will bring up against a future Rapture, Tribulation, and Millennium.

Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (Matthew 24:34) {emphasis mine}

What generation is Jesus talking about. Most Christians that don’t believe in a future Rapture, Tribulation, and Millennium will point to this verse to support their point of view. The important question is, “What is Jesus referring to with the words ‘this generation’?”

Is it referring to the people He was talking to at that time? If so, since that generation died long ago, then Jesus’s predictions must have been fulfilled almost 2 millennia ago. The problem with this interpretation is that nothing resembling these predictions happened during that initial generation. You have to really twist His words to try to support that they were fulfilled. Also, John wrote in Revelation about future fulfillment. By that time, John was the last of the apostles still alive and that whole generation was pretty much gone.

If “this generation” doesn’t refer to the people Jesus was speaking to personally in that moment, then to whom does it refer? The verses immediately preceding talk about the signs that will occur right before the end times. If you take “this generation” to mean the people who saw the signs Jesus predicted, then everything suddenly makes sense. It also parallel’s Paul’s statement of consolation to those who thought they had been left behind,**

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) {emphasis mine}

Some believers thought things were happening in their lifetime, but Paul gave them comfort that no believer would miss the end times rapture.

No One Knows

Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. (Matthew 24:34-41) {emphasis mine}

This verse very explicitly says that no one, not even angels or Jesus, knows the exact day or hour of His coming.

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:6-8)

In this verse Jesus again says that they cannot know the time of His return, but based on context, He is explaining that this generation needs to focus on sharing the Gospel with world and not primarily on the kingdom. Is this Jesus’s way of telling them that they would not be alive to see His return, but they would be responsible for “sharing the Gospel even to the remotest part of the earth?”

Therefore we do know that predicting the exact date of His return is a fool’s errand and should not be attempted, but does this mean we can’t know when it is fast approaching?

We Should Know

There is an opposing passage, though.

The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away. (Matthew 16:1-4) {emphasis mine}

In this passage, Jesus reprimands the Pharisees and Sadducees because, although they can rightly read the signs of the weather, they were unable to know and understand the prophecies of His first coming. Especially as the religious leaders, they should’ve been able to determine that Jesus’s coming was imminent and that He was fulfilling the prophetic Scriptures.

In Luke, when Jesus is discussing His second coming with His disciples, He tells this parable:

Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. (Luke 21:29-31) {emphasis mine}

Jesus would not have given this parable if there were not signs of His coming that we can recognize.

We are expected to know the Scriptures and to study them looking for the signs of His second coming. We can’t know the hour or the day, but we can know that the time is fast approaching. We shouldn’t set dates, but we should search anxiously for the signs of His coming. We shouldn’t be like the scoffers that question His literal fulfillment of His promises:

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:3-9) {emphasis mine}

One thing is certain, we are closer to Jesus’s second coming than we have ever been and must be ready as we see the day approaching.

May the God of heaven give you a desire and urgency to share the Gospel with all those around you and to grow your faith, knowledge, and relationship with Him, so you can finish the race well, with no regrets. May the knowledge that Jesus could be coming soon give you an eternal perspective on life, so you put more of your time into things of eternal consequence and don’t get overwhelmed with things of the world which are here today and then are gone.

Trust Jesus.

FYI, I hope to write several more articles on the end times (signs of the times, the rapture, the millennium, and the judgement), but I might be a bit slow rolling them out because I want to make sure they are accurate and well supported by Scripture. You can see my previous posts on the end times on the end times tab at trustjesus.substack.com. I also frequently will list upcoming posts.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

For Secure Inheritance Planning and Offline Signing

---

The setup described ensures that any 2 out of 3 participants (hardware wallets) must sign a transaction before it can be broadcast, offering robust protection against theft, accidental loss, or mismanagement of funds.

---

1. Preparation: Tools and Requirements

Hardware Required

• 3× COLDCARD Mk4 hardware wallets (or newer)
• 3× MicroSD cards (one per COLDCARD)
• MicroSD card reader (for your computer)
• Optional: USB data blocker (for safe COLDCARD connection)

Software Required

• Sparrow Wallet: Version 1.7.1 or later
  Download: https://sparrowwallet.com/
• COLDCARD Firmware: Version 5.1.2 or later
  Update guide: https://coldcard.com/docs/upgrade

Other Essentials

• Durable paper or steel backup tools for seed phrases
• Secure physical storage for backups and devices
• Optional: encrypted external storage for Sparrow wallet backups

Security Tip:
Always verify software signatures before installation. Keep your COLDCARDs air-gapped (no USB data transfer) whenever possible.

---

2. Initializing Each COLDCARD Wallet

1. Power on each COLDCARD and choose “New Wallet”.
2. Write down the 24-word seed phrase (DO NOT photograph or store digitally).
3. Confirm the seed and choose a strong PIN code (both prefix and suffix).
4. (Optional) Enable BIP39 Passphrase for additional entropy.
5. Save an encrypted backup to the MicroSD card:
   Go to Advanced > Danger Zone > Backup.
6. Repeat steps 1–5 for all three COLDCARDs.

Best Practice:
Store each seed phrase securely and in separate physical locations. Test wallet recovery before storing real funds.

---

3. Exporting XPUBs from COLDCARD

Each hardware wallet must export its extended public key (XPUB) for multisig setup:

1. Insert MicroSD card into a COLDCARD.
2. Navigate to:
   Settings > Multisig Wallets > Export XPUB.
3. Select the appropriate derivation path. Recommended:
4. Native SegWit: m/84'/0'/0' (bc1 addresses)
5. Alternatively: Nested SegWit m/49'/0'/0' (starts with 3)
6. Save the XPUB file to the MicroSD card.
7. Insert MicroSD into your computer and transfer XPUB files to Sparrow Wallet.
8. Repeat for the remaining COLDCARDs.

---

4. Creating the 2-of-3 Multisig Wallet in Sparrow

1. Launch Sparrow Wallet.
2. Click File > New Wallet and name your wallet.
3. In the Keystore tab, choose Multisig.
4. Select 2-of-3 as your multisig policy.
5. For each cosigner:
6. Choose Add cosigner > Import XPUB from file.
7. Load XPUBs exported from each COLDCARD.
8. Once all 3 cosigners are added, confirm the configuration.
9. Click Apply, then Create Wallet.
10. Sparrow will display a receive address. Fund the wallet using this.

Tip:
You can export the multisig policy (wallet descriptor) as a backup and share it among cosigners.

---

5. Saving and Verifying the Wallet Configuration

1. After creating the wallet, click Wallet > Export > Export Wallet File (.json).
2. Save this file securely and distribute to all participants.
3. Verify that the addresses match on each COLDCARD using the wallet descriptor file (optional but recommended).

---

6. Creating and Exporting a PSBT (Partially Signed Bitcoin Transaction)

1. In Sparrow, click Send, fill out recipient details, and click Create Transaction.
2. Click Finalize > Save PSBT to MicroSD card.
3. The file will be saved as a .psbt file.

Note: No funds are moved until 2 signatures are added and the transaction is broadcast.

---

7. Signing the PSBT with COLDCARD (Offline)

1. Insert the MicroSD with the PSBT into COLDCARD.
2. From the main menu:
   Ready To Sign > Select PSBT File.
3. Verify transaction details and approve.
4. COLDCARD will create a signed version of the PSBT (signed.psbt).
5. Repeat the signing process with a second COLDCARD (different signer).

---

8. Finalizing and Broadcasting the Transaction

1. Load the signed PSBT files back into Sparrow.
2. Sparrow will detect two valid signatures.
3. Click Finalize Transaction > Broadcast.
4. Your Bitcoin transaction will be sent to the network.

---

9. Inheritance Planning with Multisig

Multisig is ideal for inheritance scenarios:

Example Inheritance Setup

• Signer 1: Yourself (active user)
• Signer 2: Trusted family member or executor
• Signer 3: Lawyer, notary, or secure backup

Only 2 signatures are needed. If one party loses access or passes away, the other two can recover the funds.

Best Practices for Inheritance

• Store each seed phrase in separate, tamper-proof, waterproof containers.
• Record clear instructions for heirs (without compromising seed security).
• Periodically test recovery with cosigners.
• Consider time-locked wallets or third-party escrow if needed.

---

Security Tips and Warnings

• Never store seed phrases digitally or online.
• Always verify addresses and signatures on the COLDCARD screen.
• Use Sparrow only on secure, malware-free computers.
• Physically secure your COLDCARDs from unauthorized access.
• Practice recovery procedures before storing real value.

---

Consider

A 2-of-3 multisignature wallet using COLDCARD and Sparrow Wallet offers a highly secure, flexible, and transparent Bitcoin custody model. Whether for inheritance planning or high-security storage, it mitigates risks associated with single points of failure while maintaining usability and privacy.

By following this guide, Bitcoin users can significantly increase the resilience of their holdings while enabling thoughtful succession strategies.

@ 5c26ee8b:a4d229aa

5:118 Al-Maaida

‎إِنْ تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ ۖ وَإِنْ تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

The previous verse will be said by prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, on the day of reckoning.

No one will enter paradise without God’s mercy.

16:61 An-Nahl

‎وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِمْ مَا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ وَلَٰكِنْ يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

And if Allah were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon the earth any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].

And no one will enter paradise with pride in the heart. Pride belongs only to God, Allah, as mentioned in the next verse.

45:37 Al-Jaathiya

‎وَلَهُ الْكِبْرِيَاءُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

And to Him belongs [all] the pride within the heavens and the earth, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed: None shall enter the Fire (of Hell) who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of belief (in the oneness of God and resurrection day) and none shall enter Paradise who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride.

‎حَدَّثَنَا مِنْجَابُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ التَّمِيمِيُّ، وَسُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُسْهِرٍ، - قَالَ مِنْجَابٌ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، - عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ حَبَّةِ خَرْدَلٍ مِنْ إِيمَانٍ وَلاَ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ أَحَدٌ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ حَبَّةِ خَرْدَلٍ مِنْ كِبْرِيَاءَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

God, Allah doesn’t forgive that any other is associated with him in worship. Also, the good deeds of disbelievers will worth nothing.

4:116 An-Nisaa

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا

Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.

18:103 Al-Kahf

قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِالْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالًا

Say, [O Muhammad], "Shall we [believers] inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds?

18:104 Al-Kahf

‎الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا

[They are] those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing well in work."

18:105 Al-Kahf

‎أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَائِهِ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَزْنًا

Those are the ones who disbelieve in the verses of their Lord and in [their] meeting Him, so their deeds have become worthless; and We will not assign to them on the Day of Resurrection any importance.

18:106 Al-Kahf

‎ذَٰلِكَ جَزَاؤُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا كَفَرُوا وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَرُسُلِي هُزُوًا

That is their recompense - Hell - for what they denied and [because] they took My signs and My messengers in ridicule.

18:107 Al-Kahf

‎إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا

Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - they will have the Gardens of Paradise as a lodging,

God, Allah, sent messengers to inform the people about him as the one and only God.

6:47 Al-An'aam

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتَكُمْ إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ عَذَابُ اللَّهِ بَغْتَةً أَوْ جَهْرَةً هَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

Say, "Have you considered: if the punishment of Allah should come to you unexpectedly or manifestly, will any be destroyed but the wrongdoing people?"

6:48 Al-An'aam

وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ ۖ فَمَنْ آمَنَ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

And We send not the messengers except as bringers of good tidings and warners. So whoever believes and reforms - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

6:49 Al-An'aam

وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يَمَسُّهُمُ الْعَذَابُ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ

But those who deny Our verses - the punishment will touch them for their defiant disobedience.

6:50 Al-An'aam

قُلْ لَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ ۚ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الْأَعْمَىٰ وَالْبَصِيرُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Say, [O Muhammad], "I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me." Say, "Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give thought?"

6:51 Al-An'aam

وَأَنْذِرْ بِهِ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْ يُحْشَرُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۙ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ وَلِيٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ

And warn by the Qur'an those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord - for them besides Him will be no protector and no intercessor - that they might become righteous.

16:23 An-Nahl

‎لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ

Assuredly, Allah knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He does not like the arrogant.

16:24 An-Nahl

‎وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ مَاذَا أَنْزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۙ قَالُوا أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ

And when it is said to them, "What has your Lord sent down?" They say, "Legends of the former peoples,"

16:25 An-Nahl

‎لِيَحْمِلُوا أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۙ وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ الَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ أَلَا سَاءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ

That they may bear their own burdens in full on the Day of Resurrection and some of the burdens of those whom they misguide without knowledge. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear.

16:26 An-Nahl

‎قَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَأَتَى اللَّهُ بُنْيَانَهُمْ مِنَ الْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّقْفُ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَاهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

Those before them had already plotted, but Allah came at their building from the foundations, so the roof fell upon them from above them, and the punishment came to them from where they did not perceive.

16:27 An-Nahl

‎ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُخْزِيهِمْ وَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَائِيَ الَّذِينَ كُنْتُمْ تُشَاقُّونَ فِيهِمْ ۚ قَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ إِنَّ الْخِزْيَ الْيَوْمَ وَالسُّوءَ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ

Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them and say, "Where are My 'partners' for whom you used to oppose [the believers]?" Those who were given knowledge will say, "Indeed disgrace, this Day, and evil are upon the disbelievers" -

16:28 An-Nahl

‎الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا السَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِنْ سُوءٍ ۚ بَلَىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

The ones whom the angels take in death [while] wronging themselves, and [who] then offer submission, [saying], "We were not doing any evil." But, yes! Indeed, Allah is Knowing of what you used to do.

16:29 An-Nahl

‎فَادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَلَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ

So enter the gates of Hell to abide eternally therein, and how wretched is the residence of the arrogant.

16:30 An-Nahl

‎۞ وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا مَاذَا أَنْزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۚ قَالُوا خَيْرًا ۗ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۚ وَلَدَارُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ ۚ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ الْمُتَّقِينَ

And it will be said to those who feared Allah, "What did your Lord send down?" They will say, "[That which is] good." For those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better. And how excellent is the home of the righteous -

16:31 An-Nahl

‎جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ لَهُمْ فِيهَا مَا يَشَاءُونَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجْزِي اللَّهُ الْمُتَّقِينَ

Gardens of perpetual residence, which they will enter, beneath which rivers flow. They will have therein whatever they wish. Thus does Allah reward the righteous -

16:32 An-Nahl

‎الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ ۙ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

The ones whom the angels take in death, [being] good and pure; [the angels] will say, "Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise for what you used to do."

16:33 An-Nahl

‎هَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَوْ يَأْتِيَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ فَعَلَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ وَمَا ظَلَمَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَٰكِنْ كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

Do the disbelievers await [anything] except that the angels should come to them or there comes the command of your Lord? Thus did those do before them. And Allah wronged them not, but they had been wronging themselves.

16:34 An-Nahl

‎فَأَصَابَهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا عَمِلُوا وَحَاقَ بِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ

So they were struck by the evil consequences of what they did and were enveloped by what they used to ridicule.

16:35 An-Nahl

‎وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا لَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا عَبَدْنَا مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ نَحْنُ وَلَا آبَاؤُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمْنَا مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ فَعَلَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ فَهَلْ عَلَى الرُّسُلِ إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ

And those who associate others with Allah say, "If Allah had willed, we would not have worshipped anything other than Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything through other than Him." Thus did those do before them. So is there upon the messengers except [the duty of] clear notification?

16:36 An-Nahl

‎وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ ۖ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّلَالَةُ ۚ فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ

And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid Taghut (the false deities)." And among them were those whom Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom error was [deservedly] decreed. So proceed through the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers.

16:37 An-Nahl

‎إِنْ تَحْرِصْ عَلَىٰ هُدَاهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَنْ يُضِلُّ ۖ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ نَاصِرِينَ

[Even] if you should strive for their guidance, indeed, Allah does not guide those He sends astray, and they will have no helpers.

3:176 Aal-i-Imraan

‎وَلَا يَحْزُنْكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يَضُرُّوا اللَّهَ شَيْئًا ۗ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَلَّا يَجْعَلَ لَهُمْ حَظًّا فِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

And do not be saddened, [O Muhammad], by those who hasten into disbelief. Indeed, they will never harm Allah at all. Allah intends that He should give them no share in the Hereafter, and for them is a great punishment.

3:177 Aal-i-Imraan

‎إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الْكُفْرَ بِالْإِيمَانِ لَنْ يَضُرُّوا اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Indeed, those who purchase disbelief [in exchange] for faith - never will they harm Allah at all, and for them is a painful punishment.

3:178 Aal-i-Imraan

‎وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُوا إِثْمًا ۚ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ

And let not those who disbelieve ever think that [because] We fill for them time [of worldly things, among which wealth or time], it is better for them. We only fill for them so that they may increase in sin, and for them is a humiliating punishment.

3:179 Aal-i-Imraan

‎مَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَىٰ مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّىٰ يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْتَبِي مِنْ رُسُلِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۖ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۚ وَإِنْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَلَكُمْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

Allah would not leave the believers in that [state] you are in [presently] until He separates the evil from the good. Nor would Allah reveal to you the unseen. But [instead], Allah chooses of His messengers whom He wills, so believe in Allah and His messengers. And if you believe and fear Him, then for you is a great reward.

6:54 Al-An'aam

‎وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ ۖ أَنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنْكُمْ سُوءًا بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ

And when those come to you who believe in Our verses, say, "Peace be upon you. Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy: that any of you who does wrong out of ignorance and then repents after that and corrects himself - indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful."

6:55 Al-An'aam

‎وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ وَلِتَسْتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ

And thus do We detail the verses, and [thus] the way of the criminals will become evident.

6:56 Al-An'aam

‎قُلْ إِنِّي نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ ۚ قُلْ لَا أَتَّبِعُ أَهْوَاءَكُمْ ۙ قَدْ ضَلَلْتُ إِذًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ

Say, "Indeed, I have been forbidden to worship those you invoke besides Allah." Say, "I will not follow your desires, for I would then have gone astray, and I would not be of the [rightly] guided."

6:57 Al-An'aam

‎قُلْ إِنِّي عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّي وَكَذَّبْتُمْ بِهِ ۚ مَا عِنْدِي مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِ ۚ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ يَقُصُّ الْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْفَاصِلِينَ

Say, "Indeed, I am on clear evidence from my Lord, and you have denied it. I do not have that for which you are impatient. The decision is only for Allah. He relates the truth, and He is the best of deciders."

6:58 Al-An'aam

‎قُلْ لَوْ أَنَّ عِنْدِي مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِ لَقُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالظَّالِمِينَ

Say, "If I had that for which you are impatient, the matter would have been decided between me and you, but Allah is most knowing of the wrongdoers."

6:59 Al-An'aam

‎۞ وَعِنْدَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ ۚ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِنْ وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ

And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record.

6:60 Al-An'aam

‎وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُمْ بِالنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَىٰ أَجَلٌ مُسَمًّى ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

And it is He who takes your souls by night and knows what you have committed by day. Then He revives you therein that a specified term may be fulfilled. Then to Him will be your return; then He will inform you about what you used to do.

6:61 Al-An'aam

‎وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ

And He is the subjugator over His servants, and He sends over you guardian-angels until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him, and they do not fail [in their duties].

6:62 Al-An'aam

‎ثُمَّ رُدُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ مَوْلَاهُمُ الْحَقِّ ۚ أَلَا لَهُ الْحُكْمُ وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ الْحَاسِبِينَ

Then they His servants are returned to Allah, their true Lord. Unquestionably, His is the judgement, and He is the swiftest of accountants.

84:6 Al-Inshiqaaq

‎يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنْسَانُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَاقِيهِ

O man, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with [great] exertion and will meet it.

84:7 Al-Inshiqaaq

‎فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ

Then as for he who is given his book (where the good deeds and bad deeds are registered) in his right hand,

84:8 Al-Inshiqaaq

فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا

He will be judged with an easy reckoning

84:9 Al-Inshiqaaq

وَيَنْقَلِبُ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ مَسْرُورًا

And return happy to his people.

84:10 Al-Inshiqaaq

وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِهِ

But as for he who is given his book (where the good deeds and bad deeds are registered) behind his back,

84:11 Al-Inshiqaaq

فَسَوْفَ يَدْعُو ثُبُورًا

He will cry out for destruction

84:12 Al-Inshiqaaq

وَيَصْلَىٰ سَعِيرًا

And [enter to] burn in a Blaze.

84:13 Al-Inshiqaaq

إِنَّهُ كَانَ فِي أَهْلِهِ مَسْرُورًا

Indeed, he had [once] been among his people content;

84:14 Al-Inshiqaaq

‎إِنَّهُ ظَنَّ أَنْ لَنْ يَحُورَ

Indeed, he had thought he would never return [to God; Allah].

84:15 Al-Inshiqaaq

بَلَىٰ إِنَّ رَبَّهُ كَانَ بِهِ بَصِيرًا

But yes! Indeed, his Lord was ever of him, Seeing.

Everything that we do is written in our books by angels assigned to us; on our right and left. The weight of the deeds good or bad will determine where each person will end up; heavens or hellfire. However, each good deed will be rewards ten times more its value written in the person’s book and for each bad deed nothing more than it will be written. And whoever is away from worshiping God, Allah, has a Qarin; devil from jinn that drives him or her more astray and provokes to commit more sins.

50:16 Qaaf

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ ۖ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ

And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein

50:17 Qaaf

إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ

When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left.

50:18 Qaaf

مَا يَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ

Man does not utter any word except that with him is observers (from the angels) prepared [to record in the person’s book].

50:19 Qaaf

وَجَاءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنْتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ

And the intoxication of death will bring the truth; that is what you were trying to avoid.

50:20 Qaaf

وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ الْوَعِيدِ

And the Horn will be blown. That is the Day of [carrying out] the threat.

50:21 Qaaf

وَجَاءَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَعَهَا سَائِقٌ وَشَهِيدٌ

And every soul will come, with it a driver and a witness.

50:22 Qaaf

لَقَدْ كُنْتَ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مِنْ هَٰذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنْكَ غِطَاءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌ

[It will be said], "You were certainly in unmindfulness of this, and We have removed from you your cover, so your sight, this Day, is sharp."

50:23 Qaaf

وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُ هَٰذَا مَا لَدَيَّ عَتِيدٌ

And his companion, [the angel], will say, "This [record] is what is with me, prepared."

50:24 Qaaf

أَلْقِيَا فِي جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ

[Allah will say], "Throw into Hell every obstinate disbeliever,

50:25 Qaaf

مَنَّاعٍ لِلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ مُرِيبٍ

Preventer of good, aggressor, and doubter,

50:26 Qaaf

الَّذِي جَعَلَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ فَأَلْقِيَاهُ فِي الْعَذَابِ الشَّدِيدِ

Who made [as equal] with Allah another deity; then throw him into the severe punishment."

50:27 Qaaf

۞ قَالَ قَرِينُهُ رَبَّنَا مَا أَطْغَيْتُهُ وَلَٰكِنْ كَانَ فِي ضَلَالٍ بَعِيدٍ

His Qarin [devil from jinn assigned to the person in case of disbelief or disobeying God] will say, "Our Lord, I did not make him transgress, but he [himself] was in extreme error."

50:28 Qaaf

قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا لَدَيَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُمْ بِالْوَعِيدِ

[Allah] will say, "Do not dispute before Me, while I had already presented to you the warning.

50:29 Qaaf

مَا يُبَدَّلُ الْقَوْلُ لَدَيَّ وَمَا أَنَا بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ

The word will not be changed with Me, and never will I be unjust to the servants."

50:30 Qaaf

يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ امْتَلَأْتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِنْ مَزِيدٍ

On the Day We will say to Hell, "Have you been filled?" and it will say, "Are there some more,"

50:31 Qaaf

وَأُزْلِفَتِ الْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ

And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far,

50:32 Qaaf

هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍ

[It will be said], "This is what you were promised - for every returner [to Allah] and keeper [of His covenant]

50:33 Qaaf

مَنْ خَشِيَ الرَّحْمَٰنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَجَاءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُنِيبٍ

Who feared the Most Merciful (while) unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance].

50:34 Qaaf

ادْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَامٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ الْخُلُودِ

Enter it in peace. This is the Day of Eternity."

50:35 Qaaf

لَهُمْ مَا يَشَاءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيدٌ

They will have whatever they wish therein, and with Us is more.

50:36 Qaaf

وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُمْ مِنْ قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ بَطْشًا فَنَقَّبُوا فِي الْبِلَادِ هَلْ مِنْ مَحِيصٍ

And how many a generation before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking] power and had explored throughout the lands. Is there any place of escape?

50:37 Qaaf

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ

Indeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind].

23:102 Al-Muminoon

فَمَنْ ثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِينُهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] - it is they who are the successful.

23:103 Al-Muminoon

وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَازِينُهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ فِي جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدُونَ

But those whose scales are light - those are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally.

23:104 Al-Muminoon

تَلْفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ وَهُمْ فِيهَا كَالِحُونَ

The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will have taut smiles.

23:105 Al-Muminoon

أَلَمْ تَكُنْ آيَاتِي تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَكُنْتُمْ بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ

[It will be said]. "Were not My verses recited to you and you used to belie them?"

23:106 Al-Muminoon

قَالُوا رَبَّنَا غَلَبَتْ عَلَيْنَا شِقْوَتُنَا وَكُنَّا قَوْمًا ضَالِّينَ

They will say, "Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray.

23:107 Al-Muminoon

رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْهَا فَإِنْ عُدْنَا فَإِنَّا ظَالِمُونَ

Our Lord, remove us from it, and if we were to return [to evil], we would indeed be wrongdoers."

23:108 Al-Muminoon

قَالَ اخْسَئُوا فِيهَا وَلَا تُكَلِّمُونِ

He will say, "Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.

23:109 Al-Muminoon

إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِنْ عِبَادِي يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Indeed, there was a party of My servants who said, 'Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and You are the best of the merciful.'

23:110 Al-Muminoon

فَاتَّخَذْتُمُوهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا حَتَّىٰ أَنْسَوْكُمْ ذِكْرِي وَكُنْتُمْ مِنْهُمْ تَضْحَكُونَ

But you took them in mockery to the point that they made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them.

23:111 Al-Muminoon

إِنِّي جَزَيْتُهُمُ الْيَوْمَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ

Indeed, I have rewarded them this Day for their patient endurance - that they are the attainers [of success]."

6:160 Al-An'aam

مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا ۖ وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَىٰ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof [to his credit], and whoever comes with an evil deed will not be recompensed except the like thereof; and they will not be wronged.

More often whoever does wrong thinks that nobody saw them, however, the person’s own ears, eyes and skin will witness against him/her on Judgement Day.

41:19 Fussilat

‎وَيَوْمَ يُحْشَرُ أَعْدَاءُ اللَّهِ إِلَى النَّارِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ

And [mention, O Muhammad], the Day when the enemies of Allah will be gathered to the Fire while they are [driven] assembled in rows,

41:20 Fussilat

‎حَتَّىٰ إِذَا مَا جَاءُوهَا شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَأَبْصَارُهُمْ وَجُلُودُهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

Until, when they reach it (hellfire), their hearing and their eyes and their skins will testify against them of what they used to do.

41:21 Fussilat

‎وَقَالُوا لِجُلُودِهِمْ لِمَ شَهِدْتُمْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ قَالُوا أَنْطَقَنَا اللَّهُ الَّذِي أَنْطَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

And they will say to their skins, "Why have you testified against us?" They will say, "We were made to speak by Allah, who has made everything speak; and He created you the first time, and to Him you are returned.

41:22 Fussilat

‎وَمَا كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَتِرُونَ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ عَلَيْكُمْ سَمْعُكُمْ وَلَا أَبْصَارُكُمْ وَلَا جُلُودُكُمْ وَلَٰكِنْ ظَنَنْتُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَعْلَمُ كَثِيرًا مِمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

And you were not covering yourselves, lest your hearing testify against you or your sight or your skins, but you assumed that Allah does not know much of what you do.

41:25 Fussilat

‎۞ وَقَيَّضْنَا لَهُمْ قُرَنَاءَ فَزَيَّنُوا لَهُمْ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَحَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَوْلُ فِي أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنْسِ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا خَاسِرِينَ

And We appointed for them companions (for each of them a Qarin; devil of jinn) who made attractive to them what was before them and what was behind them [of sin], and the word has come into effect upon them among nations which had passed on before them of jinn and men. Indeed, they [all] were losers.

In the following a description of some of the events that will happen on the day of the reckoning.

2:166 Al-Baqara

إِذْ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِينَ اتُّبِعُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا وَرَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الْأَسْبَابُ

[And they should consider that] when those who have been followed disassociate themselves from those who followed [them], and they [all] see the punishment, and cut off from them are the ties [of relationship],

2:167 Al-Baqara

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُوا مِنَّا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ حَسَرَاتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَمَا هُمْ بِخَارِجِينَ مِنَ النَّارِ

Those who followed will say, "If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disassociate ourselves from them as they have disassociated themselves from us." Thus will Allah show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they are never to emerge from the Fire.

57:12 Al-Hadid

‎يَوْمَ تَرَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَسْعَىٰ نُورُهُمْ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

On the Day you see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on their right, [it will be said], "Your good tidings today are [of] gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will abide eternally." That is what is the great attainment.

57:13 Al-Hadid

‎يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا انْظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِنْ نُورِكُمْ قِيلَ ارْجِعُوا وَرَاءَكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُوا نُورًا فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِسُورٍ لَهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَاهِرُهُ مِنْ قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ

On the [same] Day the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to those who believed, "Wait for us that we may acquire some of your light." It will be said, "Go back behind you and seek light." And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment.

57:14 Al-Hadid

‎يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُنْ مَعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ وَلَٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنْتُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَارْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ الْأَمَانِيُّ حَتَّىٰ جَاءَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ

The hypocrites will call to the believers, "Were we not with you?" They will say, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allah. And the Deceiver deceived you concerning Allah.

57:15 Al-Hadid

‎فَالْيَوْمَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْكُمْ فِدْيَةٌ وَلَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۚ مَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ ۖ هِيَ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

So today no ransom will be taken from you or from those who disbelieved. Your refuge is the Fire. It is most worthy of you, and wretched is the destination.

57:16 Al-Hadid

‎۞ أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient.

57:17 Al-Hadid

‎اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. We have made clear to you the signs; perhaps you will understand.

57:18 Al-Hadid

‎إِنَّ الْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَالْمُصَّدِّقَاتِ وَأَقْرَضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَاعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ

Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan (by spending for charity and for the cause of Allah) - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.

57:19 Al-Hadid

‎وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الصِّدِّيقُونَ ۖ وَالشُّهَدَاءُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ وَنُورُهُمْ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ

And those who have believed in Allah and His messengers - those are [in the ranks of] the supporters of truth and the martyrs, with their Lord. For them is their reward and their light. But those who have disbelieved and denied Our verses - those are the companions of Hellfire.

57:20 Al-Hadid

‎اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَامًا ۖ وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٌ ۚ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ

Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.

57:21 Al-Hadid

‎سَابِقُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ

Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.

57:22 Al-Hadid

‎مَا أَصَابَ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ نَبْرَأَهَا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ

No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being - indeed that, for Allah, is easy -

57:23 Al-Hadid

‎لِكَيْلَا تَأْسَوْا عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا تَفْرَحُوا بِمَا آتَاكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ

In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful -

22:1 Al-Hajj

‎يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ السَّاعَةِ شَيْءٌ عَظِيمٌ

O mankind, fear your Lord. Indeed, the convulsion of the [final] Hour is a terrible thing.

22:2 Al-Hajj

‎يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّا أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَىٰ وَمَا هُمْ بِسُكَارَىٰ وَلَٰكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ

On the Day you see it every nursing mother will be distracted from that [child] she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will abort her pregnancy, and you will see the people [appearing] intoxicated while they are not intoxicated; but the punishment of Allah is severe.

22:3 Al-Hajj

‎وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُجَادِلُ فِي اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطَانٍ مَرِيدٍ

And of the people is he who disputes about Allah without knowledge and follows every rebellious devil.

22:4 Al-Hajj

‎كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ مَنْ تَوَلَّاهُ فَأَنَّهُ يُضِلُّهُ وَيَهْدِيهِ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ

It has been decreed for every devil that whoever turns to him - he will misguide him and will lead him to the punishment of the Blaze.

22:5 Al-Hajj

‎يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِنَ الْبَعْثِ فَإِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ مُضْغَةٍ مُخَلَّقَةٍ وَغَيْرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍ لِنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ ۚ وَنُقِرُّ فِي الْأَرْحَامِ مَا نَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ثُمَّ نُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوا أَشُدَّكُمْ ۖ وَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يُتَوَفَّىٰ وَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ لِكَيْلَا يَعْلَمَ مِنْ بَعْدِ عِلْمٍ شَيْئًا ۚ وَتَرَى الْأَرْضَ هَامِدَةً فَإِذَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ اهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ وَأَنْبَتَتْ مِنْ كُلِّ زَوْجٍ بَهِيجٍ

O People, if you should be in doubt about the Resurrection, then [consider that] indeed, We created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot, and then from a lump of flesh, formed and unformed - that We may show you. And We settle in the wombs whom We will for a specified term, then We bring you out as a child, and then [We develop you] that you may reach your [time of] maturity. And among you is he who is taken in [early] death, and among you is he who is returned to the most decrepit [old] age so that he knows, after [once having] knowledge, nothing. And you see the earth barren, but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers and swells and grows [something] of every beautiful kind.

22:6 Al-Hajj

‎ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّهُ يُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

That is because Allah is the Truth and because He gives life to the dead and because He is over all things competent

22:7 Al-Hajj

‎وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ آتِيَةٌ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ مَنْ فِي الْقُبُورِ

And [that they may know] that the Hour is coming - no doubt about it - and that Allah will resurrect those in the graves.

@ a8d1560d:3fec7a08

Based on the Free Speech Flag generator at https://crocojim18.github.io/, but now you can encode binary data as well.

https://free-speech-flag-generator--wholewish91244492.on.websim.ai/

Please also see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Speech_Flag for more information about the Free Speech Flag.

Who can tell me what I encoded in the flag used for this longform post?

@ e691f4df:1099ad65

Viewing Bitcoin Through the Light of Awakening

Ankh & Ohm Capital’s Overview of the Psycho-Spiritual Nature of Bitcoin

---

Glossary:

I. Preface: The Logos of Our Logo

II. An Oracular Introduction

III. Alchemizing Greed

IV. Layers of Fractalized Thought

V. Permissionless Individuation

VI. Dispelling Paradox Through Resonance

VII. Ego Deflation

VIII. The Coin of Great Price

Preface: The Logos of Our Logo

Before we offer our lens on Bitcoin, it’s important to illuminate the meaning behind Ankh & Ohm’s name and symbol. These elements are not ornamental—they are foundational, expressing the cosmological principles that guide our work.

Our mission is to bridge the eternal with the practical. As a Bitcoin-focused family office and consulting firm, we understand capital not as an end, but as a tool—one that, when properly aligned, becomes a vehicle for divine order. We see Bitcoin not simply as a technological innovation but as an emanation of the Divine Logos—a harmonic expression of truth, transparency, and incorruptible structure. Both the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega.

The Ankh (☥), an ancient symbol of eternal life, is a key to the integration of opposites. It unites spirit and matter, force and form, continuity and change. It reminds us that capital, like Life, must not only be generative, but regenerative; sacred. Money must serve Life, not siphon from it.

The Ohm (Ω) holds a dual meaning. In physics, it denotes a unit of electrical resistance—the formative tension that gives energy coherence. In the Vedic tradition, Om (ॐ) is the primordial vibration—the sound from which all existence unfolds. Together, these symbols affirm a timeless truth: resistance and resonance are both sacred instruments of the Creator.

Ankh & Ohm, then, represents our striving for union, for harmony —between the flow of life and intentional structure, between incalculable abundance and measured restraint, between the lightbulb’s electrical impulse and its light-emitting filament. We stand at the threshold where intention becomes action, and where capital is not extracted, but cultivated in rhythm with the cosmos. 

We exist to shepherd this transformation, as guides of this threshold —helping families, founders, and institutions align with a deeper order, where capital serves not as the prize, but as a pathway to collective Presence, Purpose, Peace and Prosperity.

---

An Oracular Introduction

Bitcoin is commonly understood as the first truly decentralized and secure form of digital money—a breakthrough in monetary sovereignty. But this view, while technically correct, is incomplete and spiritually shallow. Bitcoin is more than a tool for economic disruption. Bitcoin represents a mythic threshold: a symbol of the psycho-spiritual shift that many ancient traditions have long foretold.

For millennia, sages and seers have spoken of a coming Golden Age. In the Vedic Yuga cycles, in Plato’s Great Year, in the Eagle and Condor prophecies of the Americas—there exists a common thread: that humanity will emerge from darkness into a time of harmony, cooperation, and clarity. That the veil of illusion (maya, materiality) will thin, and reality will once again become transparent to the transcendent. In such an age, systems based on scarcity, deception, and centralization fall away. A new cosmology takes root—one grounded in balance, coherence, and sacred reciprocity.

But we must ask—how does such a shift happen? How do we cross from the age of scarcity, fear, and domination into one of coherence, abundance, and freedom?

One possible answer lies in the alchemy of incentive.

Bitcoin operates not just on the rules of computer science or Austrian economics, but on something far more old and subtle: the logic of transformation. It transmutes greed—a base instinct rooted in scarcity—into cooperation, transparency, and incorruptibility.

In this light, Bitcoin becomes more than code—it becomes a psychoactive protocol, one that rewires human behavior by aligning individual gain with collective integrity. It is not simply a new form of money. It is a new myth of value. A new operating system for human consciousness.

Bitcoin does not moralize. It harmonizes. It transforms the instinct for self-preservation into a pathway for planetary coherence.

---

Alchemizing Greed

At the heart of Bitcoin lies the ancient alchemical principle of transmutation: that which is base may be refined into gold.

Greed, long condemned as a vice, is not inherently evil. It is a distorted longing. A warped echo of the drive to preserve life. But in systems built on scarcity and deception, this longing calcifies into hoarding, corruption, and decay.

Bitcoin introduces a new game. A game with memory. A game that makes deception inefficient and truth profitable. It does not demand virtue—it encodes consequence. Its design does not suppress greed; it reprograms it.

In traditional models, game theory often illustrates the fragility of trust. The Prisoner’s Dilemma reveals how self-interest can sabotage collective well-being. But Bitcoin inverts this. It creates an environment where self-interest and integrity converge—where the most rational action is also the most truthful.

Its ledger, immutable and transparent, exposes manipulation for what it is: energetically wasteful and economically self-defeating. Dishonesty burns energy and yields nothing. The network punishes incoherence, not by decree, but by natural law.

This is the spiritual elegance of Bitcoin: it does not suppress greed—it transmutes it. It channels the drive for personal gain into the architecture of collective order. Miners compete not to dominate, but to validate. Nodes collaborate not through trust, but through mathematical proof.

This is not austerity. It is alchemy.

Greed, under Bitcoin, is refined. Tempered. Re-forged into a generative force—no longer parasitic, but harmonic.

---

Layers of Fractalized Thought Fragments

All living systems are layered. So is the cosmos. So is the human being. So is a musical scale.

At its foundation lies the timechain—the pulsing, incorruptible record of truth. Like the heart, it beats steadily. Every block, like a pulse, affirms its life through continuity. The difficulty adjustment—Bitcoin’s internal calibration—functions like heart rate variability, adapting to pressure while preserving coherence.

Above this base layer is the Lightning Network—a second layer facilitating rapid, efficient transactions. It is the nervous system: transmitting energy, reducing latency, enabling real-time interaction across a distributed whole.

Beyond that, emerging tools like Fedimint and Cashu function like the capillaries—bringing vitality to the extremities, to those underserved by legacy systems. They empower the unbanked, the overlooked, the forgotten. Privacy and dignity in the palms of those the old system refused to see.

And then there is NOSTR—the decentralized protocol for communication and creation. It is the throat chakra, the vocal cords of the “freedom-tech” body. It reclaims speech from the algorithmic overlords, making expression sovereign once more. It is also the reproductive system, as it enables the propagation of novel ideas and protocols in fertile, uncensorable soil.

Each layer plays its part. Not in hierarchy, but in harmony. In holarchy. Bitcoin and other open source protocols grow not through exogenous command, but through endogenous coherence. Like cells in an organism. Like a song.

Imagine the cell as a piece of glass from a shattered holographic plate —by which its perspectival, moving image can be restructured from the single shard. DNA isn’t only a logical script of base pairs, but an evolving progressive song. Its lyrics imbued with wise reflections on relationships.  The nucleus sings, the cell responds—not by command, but by memory. Life is not imposed; it is expressed. A reflection of a hidden pattern.

Bitcoin chants this. Each node, a living cell, holds the full timechain—Truth distributed, incorruptible. Remove one, and the whole remains. This isn’t redundancy. It’s a revelation on the power of protection in Truth.

Consensus is communion. Verification becomes a sacred rite—Truth made audible through math. 

Not just the signal; the song. A web of self-expression woven from Truth.

No center, yet every point alive with the whole. Like Indra’s Net, each reflects all. This is more than currency and information exchange. It is memory; a self-remembering Mind, unfolding through consensus and code. A Mind reflecting the Truth of reality at the speed of thought.

Heuristics are mental shortcuts—efficient, imperfect, alive. Like cells, they must adapt or decay. To become unbiased is to have self-balancing heuristics which carry feedback loops within them: they listen to the environment, mutate when needed, and survive by resonance with reality. Mutation is not error, but evolution. Its rules are simple, but their expression is dynamic. 

What persists is not rigidity, but pattern. 

To think clearly is not necessarily to be certain, but to dissolve doubt by listening, adjusting, and evolving thought itself.

To understand Bitcoin is simply to listen—patiently, clearly, as one would to a familiar rhythm returning.

---

Permissionless Individuation

Bitcoin is a path. One that no one can walk for you.

Said differently, it is not a passive act. It cannot be spoon-fed. Like a spiritual path, it demands initiation, effort, and the willingness to question inherited beliefs.

Because Bitcoin is permissionless, no one can be forced to adopt it. One must choose to engage it—compelled by need, interest, or intuition. Each person who embarks undergoes their own version of the hero’s journey.

Carl Jung called this process Individuation—the reconciliation of fragmented psychic elements into a coherent, mature Self. Bitcoin mirrors this: it invites individuals to confront the unconscious assumptions of the fiat paradigm, and to re-integrate their relationship to time, value, and agency.

In Western traditions—alchemy, Christianity, Kabbalah—the individual is sacred, and salvation is personal. In Eastern systems—Daoism, Buddhism, the Vedas—the self is ultimately dissolved into the cosmic whole. Bitcoin, in a paradoxical way, echoes both: it empowers the individual, while aligning them with a holistic, transcendent order.

To truly see Bitcoin is to allow something false to die. A belief. A habit. A self-concept.

In that death—a space opens for deeper connection with the Divine itSelf. 

In that dissolution, something luminous is reborn. 

After the passing, Truth becomes resurrected.  

---

Dispelling Paradox Through Resonance

There is a subtle paradox encoded into the hero’s journey: each starts in solidarity, yet the awakening affects the collective.

No one can be forced into understanding Bitcoin. Like a spiritual truth, it must be seen. And yet, once seen, it becomes nearly impossible to unsee—and easier for others to glimpse. The pattern catches.

This phenomenon mirrors the concept of morphic resonance, as proposed and empirically tested by biologist Rupert Sheldrake. Once a critical mass of individuals begins to embody a new behavior or awareness, it becomes easier—instinctive—for others to follow suit. Like the proverbial hundredth monkey who begins to wash the fruit in the sea water, and suddenly, monkeys across islands begin doing the same—without ever meeting.

When enough individuals embody a pattern, it ripples outward. Not through propaganda, but through field effect and wave propagation. It becomes accessible, instinctive, familiar—even across great distance.

Bitcoin spreads in this way. Not through centralized broadcast, but through subtle resonance. Each new node, each individual who integrates the protocol into their life, strengthens the signal for others. The protocol doesn’t shout; it hums, oscillates and vibrates——persistently, coherently, patiently.

One awakens. Another follows. The current builds. What was fringe becomes familiar. What was radical becomes obvious.

This is the sacred geometry of spiritual awakening. One awakens, another follows, and soon the fluidic current is strong enough to carry the rest. One becomes two, two become many, and eventually the many become One again. This tessellation reverberates through the human aura, not as ideology, but as perceivable pattern recognition.

Bitcoin’s most powerful marketing tool is truth. Its most compelling evangelist is reality. Its most unstoppable force is resonance.

Therefore, Bitcoin is not just financial infrastructure—it is psychic scaffolding. It is part of the subtle architecture through which new patterns of coherence ripple across the collective field. 

The training wheels from which humanity learns to embody Peace and Prosperity.

---

Ego Deflation

The process of awakening is not linear, and its beginning is rarely gentle—it usually begins with disruption, with ego inflation and destruction.

To individuate is to shape a center; to recognize peripherals and create boundaries—to say, “I am.” But without integration, the ego tilts—collapsing into void or inflating into noise. Fiat reflects this pathology: scarcity hoarded, abundance simulated. Stagnation becomes disguised as safety, and inflation masquerades as growth.

In other words, to become whole, the ego must first rise—claiming agency, autonomy, and identity. However, when left unbalanced, it inflates, or implodes. It forgets its context. It begins to consume rather than connect. And so the process must reverse: what inflates must deflate.

In the fiat paradigm, this inflation is literal. More is printed, and ethos is diluted. Savings decay. Meaning erodes. Value is abstracted. The economy becomes bloated with inaudible noise. And like the psyche that refuses to confront its own shadow, it begins to collapse under the weight of its own illusions.

But under Bitcoin, time is honored. Value is preserved. Energy is not abstracted but grounded.

Bitcoin is inherently deflationary—in both economic and spiritual senses. With a fixed supply, it reveals what is truly scarce. Not money, not status—but the finite number of heartbeats we each carry.

To see Bitcoin is to feel that limit in one’s soul. To hold Bitcoin is to feel Time’s weight again. To sense the importance of Bitcoin is to feel the value of preserved, potential energy. It is to confront the reality that what matters cannot be printed, inflated, or faked. In this way, Bitcoin gently confronts the ego—not through punishment, but through clarity.

Deflation, rightly understood, is not collapse—it is refinement. It strips away illusion, bloat, and excess. It restores the clarity of essence.

Spiritually, this is liberation.

---

The Coin of Great Price

There is an ancient parable told by a wise man:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, who, upon finding one of great price, sold all he had and bought it.”

Bitcoin is such a pearl.

But the ledger is more than a chest full of treasure. It is a key to the heart of things.

It is not just software—it is sacrament.

A symbol of what cannot be corrupted. A mirror of divine order etched into code. A map back to the sacred center.

It reflects what endures. It encodes what cannot be falsified. It remembers what we forgot: that Truth, when aligned with form, becomes Light once again.

Its design is not arbitrary. It speaks the language of life itself— 

The elliptic orbits of the planets mirrored in its cryptography,

The logarithmic spiral of the nautilus shell discloses its adoption rate,

The interconnectivity of mycelium in soil reflect the network of nodes in cyberspace, 

A webbed breadth of neurons across synaptic space fires with each new confirmed transaction.

It is geometry in devotion. Stillness in motion.

It is the Logos clothed in protocol.

What this key unlocks is beyond external riches. It is the eternal gold within us.

Clarity. Sovereignty. The unshakeable knowing that what is real cannot be taken. That what is sacred was never for sale.

Bitcoin is not the destination.

It is the Path.

And we—when we are willing to see it—are the Temple it leads back to.

@ 9bde4214:06ca052b

“The human spirit should remain in charge.”

Pablo & Gigi talk about the wind.

In this dialogue:

• Wind
• More Wind
• Information Calories, and how to measure them
• Digital Wellbeing
• Rescue Time
• Teleology of Technology
• Platforms get users Hooked (book)
• Feeds are slot machines
• Movie Walls
• Tweetdeck and Notedeck
• IRC vs the modern feed
• 37Signals: “Hey, let’s just charge users!”
• “You wouldn’t zap a car crash”
• Catering to our highest self VS catering to our lowest self
• Devolution of YouTube 5-star ratings to thumb up/down to views
• Long videos vs shorts
• The internet had to monetize itself somehow (with attention)
• “Don’t be evil” and why Google had to remove it
• Questr: 2D exploration of nostr
• ONOSENDAI by Arkinox
• Freedom tech & Freedom from Tech
• DAUs of jumper cables
• Gossip and it’s choices
• “The secret to life is to send it”
• Flying water & flying bus stops
• RSS readers, Mailbrew, and daily digests
• Nostr is high signal and less addictive
• Calling nostr posts “tweets” and recordings being “on tape”
• Pivoting from nostr dialogues to a podcast about wind
• The unnecessary complexity of NIP-96
• Blossom (and wind)
• Undoing URLs, APIs, and REST
• ISBNs and cryptographic identifiers
• SaaS and the DAU metric
• Highlighter
• Not caring where stuff is hosted
• When is an edited thing a new thing?
• Edits, the edit wars, and the case against edits
• NIP-60 and inconsistent balances
• Scroll to text fragment and best effort matching
• Proximity hashes & locality-sensitive hashing
• Helping your Uncle Jack of a horse
• Helping your uncle jack of a horse
• Can we fix it with WoT?
• Vertex & vibe-coding a proper search for nostr
• Linking to hashtags & search queries
• Advanced search and why it’s great
• Search scopes & web of trust
• The UNIX tools of nostr
• Pablo’s NDK snippets
• Meredith on the privacy nightmare of Agentic AI
• Blog-post-driven development (Lightning Prisms, Highlighter)
• Sandwich-style LLM prompting, Waterfall for LLMs (HLDD / LLDD)
• “Speed itself is a feature”
• MCP & DVMCP
• Monorepos and git submodules
• Olas & NDK
• Pablo’s RemindMe bot
• “Breaking changes kinda suck”
• Stories, shorts, TikTok, and OnlyFans
• LLM-generated sticker styles
• LLMs and creativity (and Gigi’s old email)
• “AI-generated art has no soul”
• Nostr, zaps, and realness
• Does the source matter?
• Poker client in bitcoin v0.0.1
• Quotes from Hitler and how additional context changes meaning
• Greek finance minister on crypto and bitcoin (Technofeudalism, book)
• Is more context always good?
• Vervaeke’s AI argument
• What is meaningful?
• How do you extract meaning from information?
• How do you extract meaning from experience?
• “What the hell is water”
• Creativity, imagination, hallucination, and losing touch with reality
• “Bitcoin is singularity insurance”
• Will vibe coding make developers obsolete?
• Knowing what to build vs knowing how to build
• 10min block time & the physical limits of consensus
• Satoshi’s reasons articulated in his announcement post
• Why do anything? Why stack sats? Why have kids?
• All you need now is motivation
• Upcoming agents will actually do the thing
• Proliferation of writers: quantity VS quality
• Crisis of sameness & the problem of distribution
• Patronage, belle epoche, and bitcoin art
• Niches, and how the internet fractioned society
• Joe’s songs
• Hyper-personalized stories
• Shared stories & myths (Jonathan Pageau)
• Hyper-personalized apps VS shared apps
• Agency, free expression, and free speech
• Edgy content & twitch meta, aka skating the line of demonetization and deplatforming
• Using attention as a proxy currency
• Farming eyeballs and brain cycles
• Engagement as a success metric & engagement bait
• “You wouldn’t zap a car crash”
• Attention economy is parasitic on humanity
• The importance of speech & money
• What should be done by a machine?
• What should be done by a human?
• “The human spirit should remain in charge”
• Our relationship with fiat money
• Active vs passive, agency vs serfdom

@ 9bde4214:06ca052b

"With the shift towards this multi-agent collaboration and orchestration world, you need a neutral substrate that has money/identity/cryptography and web-of-trust baked in, to make everything work."

Pablo & Gigi are getting high on glue.

Books & articles mentioned:

• Saving beauty by Byung-Chul Han
• LLMs as a tool for thought by Amelia Wattenberger

In this dialogue:

• vibeline & vibeline-ui
• LLMs as tools, and how to use them
• Vervaeke: AI thresholds & the path we must take
• Hallucinations and grounding in reality
• GPL, LLMs, and open-source licensing
• Pablo's multi-agent Roo setup
• Are we going to make programmers obsolete?
• "When it works it's amazing"
• Hiring & training agents
• Agents creating RAG databases of NIPs
• Different models and their context windows
• Generalists vs specialists
• "Write drunk, edit sober"
• DVMCP.fun
• Recklessness and destruction of vibe-coding
• Sharing secrets with agents & LLMs
• The "no API key" advantage of nostr
• What data to trust? And how does nostr help?
• Identity, web of trust, and signing data
• How to fight AI slop
• Marketplaces of code snippets
• Restricting agents with expert knowledge
• Trusted sources without a central repository
• Zapstore as the prime example
• "How do you fight off re-inventing GitHub?"
• Using large context windows to help with refactoring
• Code snippets for Olas, NDK, NIP-60, and more
• Using MCP as the base
• Using nostr as the underlying substrate
• Nostr as the glue & the discovery layer
• Why is this important?
• Why is this exciting?
• "With the shift towards this multi-agent collaboration and orchestration world, you need a neutral substrate that has money/identity/cryptography and web-of-trust baked in, to make everything work."
• How to single-shot nostr applications
• "Go and create this app"
• The agent has money, because of NIP-60/61
• PayPerQ
• Anthropic and the genius of mcp-tools
• Agents zapping & giving SkyNet more money
• Are we going to run the mints?
• Are agents going to run the mints?
• How can we best explain this to our bubble?
• Let alone to people outside of our bubble?
• Building pipelines of multiple agents
• LLM chains & piped Unix tools
• OpenAI vs Anthropic
• Genius models without tools vs midwit models with tools
• Re-thinking software development
• LLMs allow you to tackle bigger problems
• Increased speed is a paradigm shift
• Generalists vs specialists, left brain vs right brain
• Nostr as the home for specialists
• fiatjaf publishing snippets (reluctantly)
• fiatjaf's blossom implementation
• Thinking with LLMs
• The tension of specialization VS generalization
• How the publishing world changed
• Stupid faces on YouTube thumbnails
• Gaming the algorithm
• Will AI slop destroy the attention economy?
• Recency bias & hiding publication dates
• Undoing platform conditioning as a success metric
• Craving realness in a fake attention world
• The theater of the attention economy
• What TikTok got "right"
• Porn, FoodPorn, EarthPorn, etc.
• Porn vs Beauty
• Smoothness and awe
• "Beauty is an angel that could kill you in an instant (but decides not to)."
• The success of Joe Rogan & long-form conversations
• Smoothness fatigue & how our feeds numb us
• Nostr & touching grass
• How movement changes conversations
• LangChain & DVMs
• Central models vs marketplaces
• Going from assembly to high-level to conceptual
• Natural language VS programming languages
• Pablo's code snippets
• Writing documentation for LLMs
• Shared concepts, shared language, and forks
• Vibe-forking open-source software
• Spotting vibe-coded interfaces
• Visualizing nostr data in a 3D world
• Tweets, blog posts, and podcasts
• Vibe-producing blog posts from conversations
• Tweets are excellent for discovery
• Adding context to tweets (long-form posts, podcasts, etc)
• Removing the character limit was a mistake
• "Everyone's attention span is rekt"
• "There is no meaning without friction"
• "Nothing worth having ever comes easy"
• Being okay with doing the hard thing
• Growth hacks & engagement bait
• TikTok, theater, and showing faces and emotions
• The 1% rule: 99% of internet users are Lurkers
• "We are socially malnourished"
• Web-of-trust and zaps bring realness
• The semantic web does NOT fix this LLMs might
• "You can not model the world perfectly"
• Hallucination as a requirement for creativity

@ 9bde4214:06ca052b

"The age of the idea guys has begun."

Justin & Gigi vibe about Zig.

Articles mentioned:

• LLMs as a tool for thought by Amelia Wattenberger
• Micropayments and Mental Transaction Costs by Nick Szabo
• How our interfaces have lost their senses by Amelia Wattenberger

Talks mentioned:

• The Art of Bitcoin Rhetoric by Bitstein

Books mentioned:

• Human Action by Ludwig von Mises
• Working in Public by Nadia Eghbal

In this dialogue:

• nak
• Files
• SyncThing (and how it BitTorrent Sync became Resilio Sync)
• Convention over configuration
• Changes & speciation
• File systems as sources of truth
• Vibe-coding shower thoughts
• Inspiration and The Muse
• Justin's LLM setup
• Tony's setup (o1-pro as the architect)
• Being okay with paying for LLMs
• Anthropomorphising LLMs
• Dialog, rubber-duck debugging, and the process of thinking
• Being nice and mean to LLMs
• Battlebots & Gladiators
• Hedging your bets by being nice to Skynet
• Pascal's Wager for AI
• Thinking models vs non-thinking faster models
• Sandwich-style LLM prompting, again (waterfall stuff, HLDD / LLDD)
• Cursor rules & Paul's Prompt Buddy
• Giving lots of context vs giving specific context
• The benefit of LLMs figuring out obscure bugs in minutes (instead of days)
• The phase change of fast iteration and vibe coding
• Idea level vs coding level
• High-level vs low-level languages
• Gigi's "vibeline"
• Peterson's Logos vs Vervaeke's Dia-Logos
• Entering into a conversation with technology
• Introducing MCPs into your workflow
• How does Claude think?
• How does it create a rhyme?
• How does thinking work?
• And how does it relate to dialogue?
• Gzuuus' DVMCP & using nostr as an AI substrate
• Language Server Protocols (LSPs)
• VAAS: Vibe-coding as a service
• Open models vs proprietary models
• What Cursor got right
• What ChatGPT got right
• What Google got right
• Tight integration of tools & remaining in a flow state
• LLMs as conversational partners
• The cost of context switching
• Conversational flow & how to stay in it
• Prompts VS diary entries
• Solving technical vs philosophical models
• Buying GPUs & training your own models
• Training LLMs to understand Zig
• Preventing entryism by writing no documentation
• Thin layers & alignment layers
• Working in public & thinking in public
• Building a therapist / diary / notes / idea / task system
• "The age of the idea guys has begun."
• Daemons and spirits
• Monological VS dialogical thinking
• Yes-men and disagreeable LLMs
• Energy cost vs human cost
• Paying by the meter vs paying a subscription
• The equivalence of storage and compute
• Thinking needs memory, and memory is about the future
• Nostr+ecash as the perfect AI+human substrate
• Real cost, real consequence, and Human Action
• The cost of words & speaking
• Costly signals and free markets
• From shitcoin tokens to LLM tokens to ecash tokens
• Being too close to the metal & not seeing the forest for the trees
• Power users vs engineers
• Participatory knowing and actually using the tools
• Nostr as the germination ground for ecash
• What is Sovereign Engineering?
• LLVM and the other side of the bell-curve
• How nostr gives you users, discovery, mircopayments, a backend, and many other things for free
• Echo chambers & virality
• Authenticity & Realness
• Growing on the edges, catering to the fringe
• You don't own your iPhone
• GrapheneOS
• WebRTC and other monolithic "open" standards
• Optimizing for the wrong thing
• Building a nostr phone & Gigi's dream flow
• Using nostr to sync dotfile setups and other things
• "There are no solutions, only trade-offs"
• Cross-platform development
• Native vs non-native implementations
• Vitor's point on what we mean by native
• Does your custom UI framework work for blind people?
• Ladybird browser & how to build a browser from scratch
• TempleOS
• Form follows function & 90's interfaces
• Lamentations on the state of modern browsers
• Complexity & the downfall of the Legacy Web
• Nostr as the "new internet"
• Talks by Ladybird developer Andreas Kling
• Will's attempt of building it from scratch with Notedeck & nostr-db
• Justin's attempt with rust-multiplatform
• "If it doesn't have a rust implementation, you shouldn't use it."
• Native in terms of speed vs native in terms of UI/UX
• Engineer the logic, vibe-code the UI
• From Excalidraw to app in minutes
• What can you one-shot?
• What do you need to care about?
• Pablo's NDK snippets
• 7GUIs and GUI benchmarks for LLMs
• "Now we're purpose-building tools to make it easier for LLMs"
• "Certain tools really make your problems go away."
• Macros and meta-programming
• Zig's comptime
• UNIX tools and pipes
• Simple tools & composability
• Nostr tools for iOS & sharing developer signing keys
• Building 10 apps as one guy
• Simplicity in a community context
• Most people are on phones
• Most people don't install PWAs
• Zapstore & building our own distribution channels
• Web-of-trust and pushing builds quickly
• Improving homebrew by 10x
• (Micro)payments for package managers
• Guix and bitcoin-core
• Nix vs Guix
• Reproducible builds & web-of-trust
• Keet vs "calling an npub"
• Getting into someone's notifications
• Removing the character limit was a mistake

@ 2ed3596e:98b4cc78

Bitcoiners, your points just got a lot more epic! We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Bitcoin Well Point Store, available now in Canada and the USA.

Now you can redeem your Bitcoin Well points for prizes that level up and celebrate your Bitcoin lifestyle.

What can you get in store?

Right now, you can exchange your points for:

• Simply Bitcoin hoodie: Rep your Bitcoin pride in style

• Exclusive Bitcoin Well Stampseed backup plate: Protect and manage your private keys securely

• Personalized LeatherMint wallet: Classy, sleek, and ready to hold your fiat (until you convert it to sats!)

• Tesla Cybertruck in Bitcoin orange: Wait…really? A Cybertruck? Who approved this? 

More epic items will be available in the Bitcoin Well Point Store in the coming months. Stay tuned! 

How to redeem your Bitcoin Well Points

Redeeming your points is easy:

1. Log in and go the Bitcoin Well Points store within the Rewards Section

2. Check your Bitcoin Well point balance

3. Redeem Your Bitcoin Well points for the prize of your dreams

Once you’ve purchased an item from the Bitcoin Well Point Store, we’ll email you to figure out where you want us to ship your prize. Unless it's the Cybertruck, then you can come to our office and pick it up! 

How can you earn more Bitcoin Well Points? ⚡

Here are all the ways you can earn Bitcoin Well points:

• Buy bitcoin/Sell bitcoin/pay bills - 3 Points per $10

• Recurring buy - 5 points per $10 

• First transaction bonus - 500 points 

• Refer a friend to Bitcoin Well - 500 points

The more you use Bitcoin Well, the more points you earn, rewarding you for investing in your freedom and self-sovereignty 

Want sats, not stuff? No problem! 👇

You can keep earning sats by playing the Bitcoin (Wishing) Well! You can win up to 1,000,000 on your next coin toss. Now you have the exciting choice: do you play the  Bitcoin (Wishing) Well or save up your Bitcoin Well points for a sweet prize? 

What makes Bitcoin Well different

Bitcoin Well is on a mission to enable independence. We do this by making it easy to self custody bitcoin and embracing the latest bitcoin innovations. By custodying their own money, our customers are free to do as they wish without begging for permission. By creating a full ecosystem to buy, sell and use your bitcoin to connect with the modern financial world, you are able to have your cake and eat it too - or have your bitcoin in self custody and easily spend it too 🎂. 

Create your Bitcoin Well account now →

Invest in Bitcoin Well

We are publicly traded (and love it when our customers become shareholders!) and hold ourselves to a high standard of enabling life on a Bitcoin standard. If you want to learn more about Bitcoin Well, please visit our website or reach out!

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

test

nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpzxvzd935e04fm6g4nqa7dn9qc7nafzlqn4t3t6xgmjkr3dwnyreqqsr98r3ryhw0kdqv6s92c9tcxruc6g9hfjgunnl50gclyyjerv00csna38cs

@ ba36d0f7:cd802cba

| Pieza | Movimiento | Reglas Especiales | | --------- | ---------------------------------- | --------------------------- | | Peón | 1 casilla adelante (o 2 al inicio) | Captura al paso, coronación | | Torre | Líneas rectas | Enroque | | Caballo | En "L" (2+1) | Salta piezas | | Alfil | Diagonales | Atrapado en un color | | Dama | Cualquier dirección | Ninguna | | Rey | 1 casilla en cualquier dirección | Enroque, jaque mate |

---

1. Peón (♙ / ♟️)

• Mueve: 1 casilla adelante (o 2 en su primer movimiento).
• Captura: En diagonal (1 casilla). > Especial: >- Captura al paso: Si un peón rival avanza 2 casillas, puedes capturarlo como si hubiera movido 1. > - Coronación: Al llegar a la 8ª fila, se convierte en cualquier pieza (¡usualmente Dama!).

---

2. Torre (♖ / ♜)

• Mueve: Líneas rectas (sin límite de casillas).
• Especial: Participa en el enroque.

---

3. Caballo (♘ / ♞)

• Mueve: En "L" (2 casillas en una dirección + 1 perpendicular).

• Única pieza que salta sobre otras.

4. Alfil (♗ / ♝)

• Mueve: Diagonales (sin límite).

• Siempre permanece en el mismo color de casilla.

5. Dama (♕ / ♛)

• Mueve: Cualquier dirección (recto o diagonal).
• ¡La pieza más poderosa!

---

6. Rey (♔ / ♚)

• Mueve: 1 casilla en cualquier dirección.
  

  Especial:
  - Enroque: Cambia de lugar con una torre (si no hay obstáculos/jaques). - Jaque mate: Pierde si queda atrapado sin escapatoria.

---

Cómo mover

1. Un movimiento por turno.

2. Elige tu pieza y colócala en una casilla legal.

3. Solo tu color: Blancas mueven primero, luego negras, alternando.

4. No pasar: Debes mover si es tu turno.

---

Cómo capturar ("comer")

• Ocupa la casilla de una pieza rival: Reemplázala con tu pieza.

• Peones capturan solo en diagonal (no de frente).

• Los reyes no pueden ser capturados (el jaque mate termina el juego).

✔ Jaque: Ataca al rey enemigo (debe escapar en su siguiente turno).
❌ Ilegal: Mover a jaque o dejar a tu rey en jaque.

---

Movimientos especiales

|Movimiento|Regla Clave|Notación| |---|---|---| |Enroque|Rey + torre, sin movimientos previos|0-0| |Coronación|Peón→cualquier pieza en 8ª fila|e8=D| |Captura al paso|Captura un peón que avanzó 2 casillas|exd6 a.p.|

---

1. Enroque ("La escapatoria del rey")

• Qué: Rey y torre se mueven juntos en un turno.
  Cómo:

• Rey mueve 2 casillas hacia una torre.

• Torre "salta" al lado opuesto del rey.
  

  Reglas: - Sin jaques: El rey no puede estar en jaque ni pasar por casillas atacadas. - Sin movimientos previos: Ni el rey ni esa torre deben haberse movido antes.

Tipos:
- Corto (lado del rey, rápido): 0-0 - Largo (lado de la dama, seguro): 0-0-0

---

2. Coronación ("Coronar")

• Qué: Peón llega a la 8ª fila → se convierte en cualquier pieza (usualmente Dama).

• Cómo: Reemplaza el peón (incluso si ya tienes esa pieza).

Dato curioso: Puedes tener 9 damas (1 original + 8 coronaciones).
Ejemplo: Peón en h8 se convierte en Dama → h8=D.

---

3. Captura al paso (Del francés "en passant")

• Cuándo: Un peón rival avanza 2 casillas y queda al lado del tuyo.

• Cómo: Captúralo en diagonal (como si hubiera movido 1 casilla).
  

Regla: Debes hacerlo inmediatamente (solo en el turno siguiente)

---

Recurso digitales

Guia para principiantes - Lichess.org https://lichess.org/study/Hmb28fbv/QRyxzgre

Ajedrez desde cero - Youtube.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPf9fSY_K2k&list=PLWgqlpb234bHv38g6zXoi3WIJJonzZSAl&index=8

@ 9223d2fa:b57e3de7

9,322 steps

@ df478568:2a951e67

"It might make sense just to get some in case it catches on. If enough people think the same way, that becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Once it gets bootstrapped, there are so many applications if you could effortlessly pay a few cents to a website as easily as dropping coins in a vending machine." --Satoshi Nakamoto The Cryptography Mailing List--January 17, 2009

Forgot to add the good part about micropayments. While I don't think Bitcoin is practical for smaller micropayments right now, it will eventually be as storage and bandwidth costs continue to fall. If Bitcoin catches on on a big scale, it may already be the case by that time. Another way they can become more practical is if I implement client-only mode and the number of network nodes consolidates into a smaller number of professional server farms. Whatever size micropayments you need will eventually be practical. I think in 5 or 10 years, the bandwidth and storage will seem trivial. --Satoshi Nakamoto Bitcoin Talk-- August 5, 2010

I very be coded some HTML buttons using Claude and uploaded it to https://github.com/GhostZaps/ It's just a button that links to zapper.fun.

I signed up for Substack to build an email address, but learned adding different payment options to Substack is against their terms and services. Since I write about nostr, these terms seem as silly as someone saying Craig Wright is Satoshi. It's easy to build an audience on Substack however, or so I thought. Why is it easier to build an audience on Subtack though? Because Substack is a platform that markets to writers. Anyone with a ~~pen~~ ~~keyboard~~ smartphone and an email can create an account with Substack. There's just one problem: You are an Internet serf, working the land for your Internet landlord--The Duke of Substack.

Then I saw that Shawn posted about Substack's UX.

I should have grabbed my reading glasses before pushing the post button, but it occurred to me that I could use Ghost to do this and there is probably a way to hack it to accept bitcoin payments over the lightning network and host it yourself. So I spun my noddle, doodled some plans...And then it hit me. Ghost allows for markdown and HTML. I learned HTML and CSS with free-code camp, but ain't nobody got time to type CSS so I vibe-coded a button that ~~baits~~ sends the clicker to my zapper.fun page. This can be used on any blog that allows you to paste html into it so I added it to my Ghost blog self-hosted on a Start 9. The blog is on TOR at http://p66dxywd2xpyyrdfxwilqcxmchmfw2ixmn2vm74q3atf22du7qmkihyd.onion/, but most people around me have been conditioned to fear the dark web so I used the cloudflared to host my newsletter on the clear net at https://marc26z.com/

Integrating Nostr Into My Self-Hosted Ghost Newsletter

I would venture to say I am more technical than the average person and I know HTML, but my CSS is fuzzy. I also know how to print("Hello world!") in python, but I an NPC beyond the basics. Nevertheless, I found that I know enough to make a button. I can't code well enough to create my own nostr long-form client and create plugins for ghost that send lightning payments to lighting channel, but I know enough about nostr to know that I don't need to. That's why nostr is so F@#%-ing cool! It's all connected. ** - One button takes you to zapper.fun where you can zap anywhere between 1 and ,000,000 sats.** - Another button sends you to a zap planner pre-set to send 5,000 sats to the author per month using nostr. - Yet another button sends you to a zap planner preset to send 2,500 sats per month.

The possibilities are endless. I entered a link that takes the clicker to my Shopstr Merch Store. The point is to write as self-sovereign as possible. I might need to change my lightning address when stuff breaks every now and then, but I like the idea of busking for sats by writing on the Internet using the Value 4 Value model. I dislike ads, but I also want people to buy stuff from people I do business with because I want to promote using bitcoin as peer-to-peer electronic cash, not NGU porn. I'm not prude. I enjoy looking at the price displayed on my BlockClock micro every now and then, but I am not an NGU porn addict.

This line made this pattern, that line made this pattern. All that Bolinger Bart Simpson bullshit has nothing to with bitcoin, a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. It is the musings of a population trapped in the fiat mind-set. Bitcoin is permissionless so I realized I was bieng a hipocryte by using a permissioned payment system becaue it was easier than writing a little vibe code. I don't need permission to write for sats. I don't need to give my bank account number to Substack. I don't need to pay a 10$ vig to publish on a a platform which is not designed for stacking sats. I can write on Ghost and integrate clients that already exist in the multi-nostr-verse.

Nostr Payment Buttons

The buttons can be fouund at https://github.com/Marc26z/GhostZapButton

You can use them yourself. Just replace my npub with your npub or add any other link you want. It doesn't technically need to be a nostr link. It can be anything. I have a link to another Ghost article with other buttons that lead down different sat pledging amounts. It's early. Everyone who spends bitcoin is on nostr and nostr is small, but growing community. I want to be part of this community. I want to find other writers on nostr and stay away from Substack.

Support By Pledging 5,000 Sats Per Month

Here's what it looks like on Ghost: https://marc26z.com/zaps-on-ghost/

npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0

@ 9bde4214:06ca052b

"It's gonna be permissionless or hell."

Gigi and gzuuus are vibing towards dystopia.

Books & articles mentioned:

• AI 2027
• DVMs were a mistake
• Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
• Takedown by Laila michelwait
• The Ultimate Resource by Julian L. Simon
• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
• Momo by Michael Ende

In this dialogue:

• Pablo's Roo Setup
• Tech Hype Cycles
• AI 2027
• Prompt injection and other attacks
• Goose and DVMCP
• Cursor vs Roo Code
• Staying in control thanks to Amber and signing delegation
• Is YOLO mode here to stay?
• What agents to trust?
• What MCP tools to trust?
• What code snippets to trust?
• Everyone will run into the issues of trust and micropayments
• Nostr solves Web of Trust & micropayments natively
• Minimalistic & open usually wins
• DVMCP exists thanks to Totem
• Relays as Tamagochis
• Agents aren't nostr experts, at least not right now
• Fix a mistake once & it's fixed forever
• Giving long-term memory to LLMs
• RAG Databases signed by domain experts
• Human-agent hybrids & Chess
• Nostr beating heart
• Pluggable context & experts
• "You never need an API key for anything"
• Sats and social signaling
• Difficulty-adjusted PoW as a rare-limiting mechanism
• Certificate authorities and centralization
• No solutions to policing speech!
• OAuth and how it centralized
• Login with nostr
• Closed vs open-source models
• Tiny models vs large models
• The minions protocol (Stanford paper)
• Generalist models vs specialized models
• Local compute & encrypted queries
• Blinded compute
• "In the eyes of the state, agents aren't people"
• Agents need identity and money; nostr provides both
• "It's gonna be permissionless or hell"
• We already have marketplaces for MCP stuff, code snippets, and other things
• Most great stuff came from marketplaces (browsers, games, etc)
• Zapstore shows that this is already working
• At scale, central control never works. There's plenty scams and viruses in the app stores.
• Using nostr to archive your user-generated content
• HAVEN, blossom, novia
• The switcharoo from advertisements to training data
• What is Truth?
• What is Real?
• "We're vibing into dystopia"
• Who should be the arbiter of Truth?
• First Amendment & why the Logos is sacred
• Silicon Valley AI bros arrogantly dismiss wisdom and philosophy
• Suicide rates & the meaning crisis
• Are LLMs symbiotic or parasitic?
• The Amish got it right
• Are we gonna make it?
• Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
• Takedown by Laila michelwait
• Harry Potter dementors & Momo's time thieves
• Facebook & Google as non-human (superhuman) agents
• Zapping as a conscious action
• Privacy and the internet
• Plausible deniability thanks to generative models
• Google glasses, glassholes, and Meta's Ray Ben's
• People crave realness
• Bitcoin is the realest money we ever had
• Nostr allows for real and honest expression
• How do we find out what's real?
• Constraints, policing, and chilling effects
• Jesus' plans for DVMCP
• Hzrd's article on how DVMs are broken (DVMs were a mistake)
• Don't believe the hype
• DVMs pre-date MCP tools
• Data Vending Machines were supposed to be stupid: put coin in, get stuff out.
• Self-healing vibe-coding
• IP addresses as scarce assets
• Atomic swaps and the ASS protocol
• More marketplaces, less silos
• The intensity of #SovEng and the last 6 weeks
• If you can vibe-code everything, why build anything?
• Time, the ultimate resource
• What are the LLMs allowed to think?
• Natural language interfaces are inherently dialogical
• Sovereign Engineering is dialogical too

@ 9bde4214:06ca052b

“We do not have the answers."

Pablo & Gigi have no solutions.

In this dialogue:

• What is this No Solutions thing anyway?
• Why dialogue and distributed cognition is so important
• Why is nostr exciting for developers?
• Evolution, Life, and nostr
• What is the perfect nostr app, and why can’t there be THE perfect nostr app?
• Why there is no “global” view in nostr
• Impossible problems vs. possible (but still hard) problems
• Blossom, blossom, and more blossom
• Zooko’s Triangle
• Freedom Tech Building Blocks
• NIP-60/61, NIP-89
• Email vs ICQ
• Accepting constraints & moving forward
• Nostr has data integrity, but no data guarantees
• Bitcoin as an extreme RAID system
• Fault tolerance vs. efficiency
• “Build the infrastructure, don’t run it.”
• eCash fixes 402
• Everything in nostr can be one-click
• There’s infinite nsecs (and they are free!)
• The magic of the nostr view-only mode
• The Local-first movement
• How to monetize without putting yourself in the middle?
• RoboSats as an example of open-source monetization
• The YouTube like count is a lie

Further links:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_cognition
• https://nips.nostr.com/60
• https://nips.nostr.com/61
• https://nips.nostr.com/89
• https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zooko’s_triangle
• https://www.jrepodcast.com/guest/adam-curry/
• https://localfirstweb.dev/
• https://www.localfirstconf.com/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICQ
• https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/05/25/icq-1996-2024-the-first-universal-messenger-had-a-good-run-and-is-leaving-us-soon
• https://www.chatinum.com/articles/the-old-chat-apps-of-the-2000s
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_RAID_levels
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIkhgagvrjI
• https://njump.me/nosolutions@sovereignengineering.io

@ f1989a96:bcaaf2c1

Good morning, readers!

In Georgia, mere weeks after freezing the bank accounts of five NGOs supporting pro-democracy movements, the ruling Georgian Dream party passed a new law banning foreign organizations from providing grants to local groups without regime approval. The bill is part of a broader effort to silence dissent and weaken democracy through financial repression.\ \ In Latin America, opposition leader María Corina Machado seeks to rally citizens against Nicolás Maduro’s immensely repressive regime. With the economy and currency in shambles and dozens of military personnel abandoning Maduro, Machado sees an opportunity to challenge his grip on power.

In open source news, we spotlight the release of Bitcoin Core version 29.0, the latest update to the primary software that powers the Bitcoin network and helps millions of people send, receive, and verify Bitcoin transactions every day. This release improves the reliability and compatibility of Bitcoin’s main software implementation. We also cover the unique story of LuckyMiner, an unauthorized Bitaxe clone making waves in Asian markets as demand soars for small, low-cost, home mining equipment — evidence that people want to participate in the Bitcoin network themselves.

We close with the latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series, in which Nicaraguan human rights defender Berta Valle joins HRF’s Arsh Molu to explore how authoritarian regimes weaponize financial systems to silence dissent and isolate opposition voices and how tools like Bitcoin can offer a way out. We also feature an interview with Salvadoran opposition leader Claudia Ortiz, who discusses the erosion of civil liberties under President Nayib Bukele and offers a nuanced take on Bitcoin in the country.

Now, let’s jump right in!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

GLOBAL NEWS

Georgia | Bans Foreign Donations for Nonprofits and NGOs

Mere weeks after freezing the bank accounts of five NGOs supporting pro-democracy demonstrators in recent unrest caused by elections, Georgia’s regime passed a new law that bans foreign organizations from providing “monetary or in-kind grants” to Georgian organizations and individuals without regime approval. Introduced by the increasingly repressive Georgian Dream party, the bill is part of a broader effort (including the controversial foreign agents law passed in 2024) designed to silence dissent and dismantle pro-democracy groups. Rights groups warn these laws will cripple civil society by cutting funding and imposing heavy fines for violators. Last week, parliament also read a bill that would grant officials the power to ban opposition parties entirely. With civil society financially repressed, Georgia is sliding further into tyranny, where free expression, political opposition, and grassroots organizations are under siege.

Venezuela | Opposition Mobilizes Against Maduro’s Financial Repression

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is intensifying efforts against Nicolás Maduro’s brutal regime by targeting what she believes are his two greatest vulnerabilities: a collapsing economy and fractures in his repressive apparatus. As the Venezuelan bolivar unravels (reaching a record low in March) and inflation spirals out of control (expected to reach 220% before the end of the year), Maduro’s regime doubles down. It imposes currency controls, expropriates private property, and exerts complete state control over banks. Meanwhile, signs of discontent are growing inside the military, with dozens of personnel reportedly deserting. “I think we have a huge opportunity in front of us, and I see that much closer today than I did a month ago,” Machado said. To rebuild Venezuela’s future, Machado sees financial freedom as essential and has publicly embraced Bitcoin as a tool to resist the regime’s weaponization of money.

India | UPI Outage Disrupts Payments Nationwide

Digital transactions across India were disrupted mid-April as the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) experienced its third major outage in the last month. UPI is a government-run system that enables digital payments and underpins India’s push towards a cashless, centralized economy. Fintechs, banks, and institutions plug into UPI as a backbone of their digital infrastructure. Recently, India started integrating its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital rupee, into UPI, leveraging its existing network effect to expand the reach of state-issued digital money. When a single outage can freeze an entire nation’s ability to transact, it reveals the fragility of centralized infrastructure. By contrast, decentralized money like Bitcoin operates independently of state-run systems and with consistent uptime, giving users the freedom to transact and save permissionlessly.

China | Bitcoin for Me, Not for Thee

China is debating new regulations for handling its growing trove of Bitcoin and other digital assets seized during criminal investigations. While the regime debates how to manage its seized digital assets, the trading of Bitcoin and other digital assets remains banned for Chinese citizens on the mainland. Reports indicate that local governments have quietly sold confiscated Bitcoin and other digital assets through private companies to bolster their dwindling budgets. If true, this exposes the hypocrisy of a regime banning digital assets for its people while exploiting them as a strategic revenue source for the state. This contradiction accentuates the ways authoritarian regimes manipulate financial rules for their own benefit while punishing the public for using the same strategies.

Serbia | Vučić Targets Civil Society as Economy Sinks

As Serbia’s economy stalls and the cost of living remains stubbornly high, President Aleksandar Vučić is escalating his crackdown on civil society to deflect blame and tighten control. After a train station canopy collapse in Novi Sad killed 16 people last November, protests erupted. Serbians, led by students, flooded the streets to protest government corruption, declining civil liberties, and a worsening economy. The protests have since spread across 400 cities, reflecting nationwide discontent. In response, Vučić is now targeting civil society organizations under the pretext of financial misconduct. Law enforcement raided four NGOs that support Serbians’ human rights, the rule of law, and democratic elections.

Russia | Jails Four Journalists for Working With Navalny

A Russian court sentenced four independent Russian journalists to five and a half years in prison for working with the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF) — a pro-democracy organization founded by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The journalists — Antonina Favorskaya, Konstantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin, and Artyom Kriger — were convicted in a closed-door trial for associating with an organization the Kremlin deems an “extremist.” The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the verdict as a “blatant testimony to Russian authorities’ profound contempt for press freedom.” Since it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin has increasingly criminalized dissent and financially repressed opposition, nonprofits, and ordinary citizens.

BITCOIN AND FREEDOM TECH NEWS

Flash | Introduces Flash Lightning Addresses, New UI, and Encrypted Messaging

Flash, a Bitcoin Lightning wallet and HRF grantee bringing freedom money to the Caribbean, released its version 0.4.0 beta. This release includes an updated user interface, dedicated Flash Lightning addresses (user @ flashapp.me), and encrypted messaging. The redesigned app is more user-friendly and better suited for users new to Bitcoin. Flash users now receive a verified Lightning address, making it easier to send and receive Bitcoin. The update also adds encrypted nostr messaging, enabling secure communication between users. As authoritarian regimes in the region, like Cuba, tighten control over money, Flash offers a practical and private solution for Bitcoin access.

DahLIAS | New Protocol to Lower the Cost of Private Bitcoin Transactions

Bitcoin developers recently announced DahLIAS, the first protocol designed to enable full cross-input signature aggregation (CISA). CISA is a proposed Bitcoin update that could make private Bitcoin transactions much cheaper. Right now, collaborative transactions are more expensive than typical transactions because each input in a transaction needs its own signature. CISA would allow those signatures to be combined, saving space and reducing fees. But this change would require a soft fork, a safe, backward-compatible software update to Bitcoin’s code. If adopted, CISA could remove the need for users to justify why they want privacy, as the answer would be, to save money. This is especially important for dissidents living under surveillant regimes. DahLIAS could be a breakthrough that helps make privacy more practical for everyone using Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Core | Version 29.0 Now Available for Node Runners

Bitcoin Core is the main software implementation that powers the Bitcoin network and helps millions of people send, receive, and verify transactions every day. The latest update, Bitcoin Core v29.0, introduces changes to improve network stability and performance. The release helps keep the network stable even when not everyone updates simultaneously. Further, it reduces the chances that nodes (computers that run the Bitcoin software) accidentally restart — an issue that can interrupt network participation. It also adds support for full Replace-by-Fee (RBF), allowing users to increase the fee on stuck transactions in times of high network demand. Enhancing Bitcoin’s reliability, usability, and security ensures that individuals in oppressive regimes or unstable financial systems can access a permissionless and censorship-resistant monetary network. Learn more about the update here.

Nstart | Releases Multilingual Support

Nstart, a new tool that simplifies onboarding to nostr — a decentralized and censorship-resistant social network protocol — released multilingual support. It added Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, and Mandarin as languages. This update broadens access by making the onboarding experience available to a wider audience — especially those living under dictatorships across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, where communication and press freedom are heavily restricted. Users can even contribute translations themselves. Overall, multilingual support makes Nstart a more powerful tool for activists and organizations operating under authoritarian environments, offering guided, straightforward access to uncensorable communications.

Bitcoin Chiang Mai | Release Bitcoin Education Podcast

Bitcoin Chiang Mai, a grassroots Bitcoin community in Thailand, launched an educational podcast to teach Bitcoin in Thai. In a country where financial repression is on the rise and the regime is experimenting with a programmable central bank digital currency (CBDC), this podcast offers an educational lifeline. By making Bitcoin knowledge and tools more accessible, the show empowers Thais to explore alternatives to state-controlled financial systems. It’s a grassroots effort to preserve financial freedom and encourage open dialogue in an increasingly controlled economic environment. Check it out here.

LuckyMiner | Undisclosed Bitaxe Clone Gaining Popularity in Asia

LuckyMiner, a Bitcoin mining startup out of Shenzhen, China is shaking up Asia’s Bitcoin hardware scene with a rogue twist. What began as a hobby project in 2023 has since exploded into a full-scale operation, manufacturing and selling thousands of undisclosed Bitaxe clones (which are small, affordable bitcoin miners based on the Bitaxe design). While Bitaxe is open-source, it’s licensed under CERN-OHL-S-2.0, requiring any modifications to be made public. LuckyMiner ignored that rule and the founder has openly admitted to breaking the license. Despite that, LuckyMiner is succeeding anyway, fueled by growing demand for affordable home mining equipment. While controversial, the rise of low-cost miners signals grassroots interest in Bitcoin, especially at a time when Asia grapples with growing authoritarianism and financial repression.

RECOMMENDED CONTENT

HRF x Pubkey — Bitcoin as a Tool to Fight Financial Repression in Autocracies with Berta Valle

In the latest HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech series, Nicaraguan human rights defender and journalist Berta Valle joins HRF’s Arsh Molu to discuss how Bitcoin empowers individuals to resist the financial repression of authoritarian regimes. From helping families receive remittances when bank accounts are frozen to enabling independent media and activists to fund their work without regime interference, Bitcoin is quietly reshaping what resistance can look like under tyranny. Watch the full fireside chat here.

Claudia Ortiz: A Voice of Opposition in Bukele’s El Salvador

In this interview, analyst and journalist Marius Farashi Tasooji speaks to Salvadoran opposition leader Claudia Ortiz about President Bukele’s consolidation of power, the erosion of civil liberties, and the future of Bitcoin in the country. While Ortiz acknowledges Bitcoin’s potential as a tool for freedom, she critiques the current administration’s opaque and heavy-handed implementation of it. Ortiz explains her opposition to the Bitcoin Law, citing concerns about transparency and accountability, and outlines what she would do differently if elected president. Watch the full conversation here.

If this article was forwarded to you and you enjoyed reading it, please consider subscribing to the Financial Freedom Report here.

Support the newsletter by donating bitcoin to HRF’s Financial Freedom program via BTCPay.\ Want to contribute to the newsletter? Submit tips, stories, news, and ideas by emailing us at ffreport @ hrf.org

The Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) is accepting grant proposals on an ongoing basis. The Bitcoin Development Fund is looking to support Bitcoin developers, community builders, and educators. Submit proposals here.

Subscribe to newsletter

Apply for a grant

Support our work

Visit our website

@ 9bde4214:06ca052b

“You’ll get all that for free if you build it right.”

Pablo & Gigi try to stop giggling.

In this dialogue:

• 01: Start Ugly
• 02: There is No Global
• Concept of ownership & “Read, Write, Own”
• Shamir Secret Sharing and Timelocks
• “No amount of violence will ever solve a math problem.”
• You can’t prove deletion of a key (or anything, really); best you can do is “burn” bitcoin
• Data is information, which behaves like an idea (not like an apple)
• “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” – https://dergigi.com/threads/memes-vs-the-world
• Why the Pubky architecture isn’t great
• Cashu
• Nutzaps: NIP-60 / NIP-61
• How nutzaps fix fake zaps on zaplife.lol
• “Ecash fixes HTTP 402”
• “[Bitcoin [and nostr]] take advantage of the nature of information being easy to spread but hard to stifle.” –Satoshi Nakamoto
• Discovery with NIP-89
• #RunDVM with NIP-90
• Why micropayments can’t work on credit rails, and how bitcoin is the rediscovery of money.
• Putting payments into blossom
• “Money is essen­tially a tool to keep track of who owes what to whom. Broadly speaking, every­thing we have used as money up to now falls into two categories: physical artifacts and infor­ma­tional lists. Or, to use more common parlance: tokens and ledgers.”
• “maximum utility in the world of Bitcoin entails the adoption of maximum responsibility.”
• Complexity of Lightning vs the simplicity of eCash
• Amber and Citrine
• How Pablo became the BIS
• 12 words in your head can literally save your life
• The in-between of custodial and non-custodial in a multi-mint world
• Nutzaps integrated in chachi.chat
• The intermediacy of nostr is magic
• In nostr you’ll get a lot for free IF YOU BUILD IT RIGHT
• “Free Speech platforms cannot exist; if there is a ‘deplatform’ button, the button will be pressed.”
• “Neither nostalgia nor utopia.”
• Solutions that make stuff worse over time vs solutions that make stuff better over time.

• asknostr on passkeys, and why we think they’ll make things worse over time.

• Authentication vs identity: “identification asks, authentication proves”
• You are not your name and photo; identity is prismatic
• (m00t’s talk on it at web summit 2011)
• Starbug from CCC pwning TouchID biometrics from a high-res photo (article)
• Key rotation and (American) HODL
• Social recovery
• Multi-sig for nostr with FROSTR

Links & References:

• Nostr Protocol Repository: https://github.com/nostr-protocol
• Cashu (e-cash): https://github.com/cashubtc
• NIP-60 (Nutzaps): https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/60.md
• NIP-89 (Service Discovery) & NIP-90 (DVMs) – upcoming proposals: https://nips.nostr.com/89 & https://nips.nostr.com/90

@ 9bde4214:06ca052b

“I don’t believe in Utopia anymore. I’m too old for that.”

Calle & Gigi philosophize about nuts.

Books and articles mentioned:

• Who Owns the Future?
• The Cathedral And The Bazaar
• Cryptography is Not Enough
• Bitcoin is Time

In this dialogue:

• Where is the Utopia that the internet promised?
• “Neither nostalgia nor utopia”
• Net Neutrality is a moral stance
• Where did the internet go wrong?
• Tech as a tool; is tech always neutral?
• Technology that increases agency VS tech that enslaves
• Competition vs Symbiosis
• “Who will run the mints?”
• “Anyone” can use it vs “everyone” can use it
• Centralizing vs. Monopolizing
• Bitcoin has an ethos baked in (You Shall Not Steal)
• Passive internet vs active internet
• Agency in cyberspace, and how to maximize it
• Blinded custodian vs regular custodian
• User data is a liability
• Obscura / Mullvad / Silent.Link as obvious early adopters
• Run your own ISP - Tollgate
• Cryptography is Not Enough
• Bitcoin is Time
• Time requires heat
• Zero-knowledge service providers
• Electronic Cash vs Digital Cash (CBDCs)
• Credit requires KYC, KYC implies outside enforcement
• Writings on Micropayments by Nick Szabo
• eCash fixes 402, obviously
• Who Owns the Future?
• “You are the product” vs “Subscription Hell”
• “Hello old friend!!!”
• Cathedral vs Bazaar
• Why paywalls suck
• Information wants to be free
• "Markets become absurd as supply approaches infinity."
• eCash + AI = match made in heaven
• #LearnToCode vs #LearnToPrompt
• Scarcity in cyberspace: compute, storage, networking
• Zero-Knowledge compute & zero-knowledge proofs
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-knowledge_proof
• https://github.com/AbdelStark/cashu-zk-engine
• Cairo: https://github.com/starkware-libs/cairo
• MCP https://github.com/AbdelStark/bitcoin-mcp
• MCP DVM: https://github.com/r0d8lsh0p/n8n-AI-agent-DVM-MCP-client
• DVMCP: https://mcp.so/server/dvmcp
• Olas & Nutzaps (NIP-60, NIP-61)
• Bitcoin is not only the internet of money, but it is the money of the internet
• Re-building the internet archive on top of nostr
• Bitrot & 404
• Resurrection markets & marketplace for hashes via Blossom
• Hugs 🫂

@ f10512df:c9293bb3

Details

• 🍳 Cook time: 5-7 minutes
• 🍽️ Servings: 1

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• Shredded cheese (Sharp cheddar is a favorite)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil or ghee

Directions

1. Add oil to a non-stick pan and allow it to get hot (med-high heat)
2. Add eggs and additional toppings, scramble and wait for the edges to get brown.
3. Add shredded cheese while edges are browning. It is best if cheese begins to melt before flipping.
4. Flip, and make sure all cheese stayed down, and there is enough oil left in the pan.
5. Keep checking until pan side of eggs lift easily. Done correctly, the cheese will form a crisp layer.
6. When fully cooked, serve with cheese right side up and enjoy!

@ 9bde4214:06ca052b

“It isn’t obvious that the world had to work this way. But somehow the universe smiles on encryption.”

hzrd149 & Gigi take a stroll along the shore of cryptographic identities.

This dialogue explores how cryptographic signatures fundamentally shift power dynamics in social networks, moving control from servers to key holders. We discuss the concept of "setting data free" through cryptographic verification, the evolving role of relays in the ecosystem, and the challenges of building trust in decentralized systems. We examine the tension between convenience and decentralization, particularly around features like private data and data synchronization. What are the philosophical foundations of building truly decentralized social networks? And how can small architectural decisions have profound implications for user autonomy and data sovereignty?

Movies mentioned:

• 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
• Soylent Green (1973)
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
• Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
• The Matrix (1999)

In this dialogue: - Hzrd's past conversations: Bowls With Buds 316 & 361 - Running into a water hose - Little difference, big effect - Signing data moves the power to the key holders - Self-signing data sets the data free - Relay specialization - Victor's Amethyst relay guide - Encryption and decryption is expensive - is it worth it? - The magic of nostr is that stuff follows you around - What should be shown? What should be hidden? - Don't lie to users. Never show outdated data. - Nostr is raw and immediate - How quickly you get used to things working - Legacy web always tries to sell you something - Lying, lag, frustration - How NoStrudel grew - NoStrudel notifications - Data visualization and dashboards - Building in public and discussing in public - Should we remove DMs? - Nostr as a substrate for lookups - Using nostr to exchange Signal or SimpleX credentials - How private is a group chat? - Is a 500-people group chat ever private? - Pragmatism vs the engineering mindset - The beauty and simplicity of nostr - Anti-patterns in nostr - Community servers and private relays - Will vibe coding fix (some of the) things? - Small specialized components VS frameworks - Technology vs chairs (and cars, and tractors, and books) - The problem of being greedy - Competitive silos VS synergistic cooperation - Making things easy vs barriers of entry - Value4value for music and other artists - Adding code vs removing code - Pablo's Roo setup and DVMCP - Platform permission slips vs cryptographic identities - Micropayments vs Subscription Hell - PayPerQ - Setting our user-generated data free - The GNU/Linux approach and how it beat Microsoft - Agents learning automatically thanks to snippets published on nostr - Taxi drivers, GPS, and outsourcing understanding - Wizards VS vibe coders - Age differences, Siri, and Dragon Naturally Speaking - LLMs as a human interface to call tools - Natural language vs math and computer language - Natural language has to be fuzzy, because the world is fuzzy - Language and concepts as compression - Hzrd watching The Matrix (1999) for the first time - Soylent Green, 2001, Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind, Johnny Mnemonic - Are there coincidences? - Why are LLMs rising at the same time that cryptography identities are rising? - "The universe smiles at encryption" - The universe does not smile upon closed silos - The cost of applying force from the outside - Perfect copies, locality, and the concept of "the original" - Perfect memory would be a curse, not a blessing - Organic forgetting VS centralized forgetting - Forgetting and dying needs to be effortless - (it wasn't for IPFS, and they also launched a shitcoin) - Bitcoin makes is cheap to figure out what to dismiss - Would you like to have a 2nd brain? - Trust and running LLMs locally - No need for API keys - Adjacent communities: local-first, makers and hackers, etc. - Removing the character limit was a mistake - Browsing mode vs reading mode - The genius of tweets and threads - Vibe-coding and rust-multiplatform - Global solutions vs local solutions - The long-term survivability of local-first - All servers will eventually go away. Your private key won't. - It's normal to pay your breakfast with sats now - Nostr is also a normal thing now, at least for us - Hzrd's bakery - "Send Gigi a DM that says GM" - and it just works - The user is still in control, thanks to Amber - We are lacking in nostr signing solutions - Alby's permission system as a step in the right direction - We have to get better at explaining that stuff - What we do, why we care, why we think it's important

@ 9bde4214:06ca052b

"What should the next iteration of the internet look like?"

Paul & Gigi pray for a better tomorrow.

Books mentioned:

• The Bible
• I, Pencil by Leonard E. Read
• Don't make me think! by Steve Krug
• The Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson and William Rees-Mogg

In this dialogue:

• Paul and his awesome nostr t-shirt
• Are we all just nostalgic?
• Where did the optimism of computing and the information superhighway go?
• We went from interop to pay-to-unlock.
• Do we have to live in the digital gulags forever?
• Homecooked meals and homecooked apps
• Paper straws and the downfall of Western Civilization
• "You need to be okay with people getting rekt"
• If the car would be introduced today, it would be illegal
• Bravery and personal responsibility
• "nostr will only be what diehards will build it to be"
• Bad teleology is built into the current (non-nostr) app landscape
• "You can get a lot of the upside without holding your own keys”
• “...but you can't get ALL of the upside!"
• Expressiveness and free speech online
• Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Assembly, and Financial Freedom in Cyberspace
• Self-publishing vs platform publishing
• Information calories. Can we count them?
• Don't make me think!
• Is not being forced to think part of the problem?
• Mutiny & bitcoin UX that's too easy
• Games and costly mistakes
• The early days: software distribution via print magazines
• Prompting allows you to define your own teleology
• Vibe coding and Cursor
• "The hard part is to figure out what you want."
• "What should the next iteration of the internet look like?"
• GenZ doesn't know shit about files and folders
• Why files are great
• Gigi's SyncThing & Standard Notes setup
• File-based apps like Smart AudioBook Player
• Reading apps like Pocket, Instapaper, and Readwise Reader
• Saving all the things & linking stuff together
• Clips of podcasts and videos, e.g. Fountain
• A Commonplace Book to cyberspace
• Creating a "Family Bible" app
• If you want to maximize profits in the attention economy, you have to get users addicted
• (Zaps potentially fix this, as you wouldn’t zap a car crash)
• Let computers do computer work, let humans be humans
• "The end is not being on the computer"
• Solo private / group private / public
• Liberal vs Conservative sentiment in social environments
• Whom to care about?
• Web of trust & our understanding of it
• Forgiveness, Trust, and Repeat Games
• Tit-for-tat and forgiving tit-for-tat
• Three strikes and you're out!
• "Choose your gulag" is the alternative to nostr
• 7-generation thinking
• 2140
• The Sovereign Individual is embedded in a social structure, always
• I, Pencil
• Jungle vs Civilization
• Fiat = because I said so (“Fiat Lux” - Let there be light)
• Do we need leaders in bitcoin?
• Peterson Fallacy / God vs Bitcoin
• Jesus early followers were the Followers of The Way
• Zaps are not payments
• Zaps are not "tips"
• Bitstein & Pierre: The Reorg
• Vervaeke: “Where do you go for wisdom?”
• Rough consensus and Pieter Wuille
• "There is no such thing as a leaderless system"
• Wisdom in cyberspace
• Can we build wise tools?
• Prompting the Bible, ChristGPT, and Bible Slop
• Gell-Mann amnesia effect
• Vervaekes AI argument: The Coming Thresholds and The Path We Must Take
• Where do new ideas come from?
• Sandwich prompting style (HLDD / LLDD)
• The Tale of John Henry
• Silicon Sages
• Conscience and The Muse
• Hypermedia and HyperNote
• Glassholes, Google Glasses, and wearable technology
• Prompting & Praying for An Internet Worth Having

@ 57c631a3:07529a8e

Poetry, unstacked

Painting by Early Fern, shared by Marine Eyes

It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there.—William Carlos Williams

April, the month Eliot famously deemed the cruelest, is kindest to poetry. It’s when we nationally awaken to poetry’s efforts to capture the human experience in all its messy contradictions, leaning into uncertainty and wonder and bringing readers along for the ride.

Williams’s adage pairs beautifully with Ezra Pound’s assertion that “Poetry is news that stays news.” Poetry* gives readers the most immediate and urgent hotline to feeling. Big emotions turn us instinctively, like human sunflowers, toward poems, which are singularly compact vehicles for thinking and feeling. They have a knack for distilling our existential questions and putting all that wondering to music—after all, the term lyric poetry comes from the lyre,* which accompanied the recitation of poetry in antiquity.

On Substack, poets shed the constraints of traditional publishing timelines, sharing works in progress and experimenting in real time. What arises isn’t just a collection of newsletters but a living anthology of established voices and emerging talents in conversation with one another and their readers. If you’re still not convinced that poetry is for you (it is!), I created a primer of Poems for Those Who Don’t “Get” Poetry. But beyond that gateway, Substack presents countless paths to discover the poems that will speak directly to you—from translation projects that breathe new life into ancient verse to craft discussions that demystify the process. Allow me to introduce you to a few of my favorites.

Poetry in progress

Quiddity: a word I love. It means “the inherent nature or essence of someone or something.” The you-ness of you. That is what the best poets translate through their writing—formal or free verse, ruminative or praising, expansive or brief. It’s the way one listens to the singular voice channeled through them** and delivers that voice alive on the page.

This is the foundation for the widest category of poetry on Substack. No two posts are alike: you might get the intimacy of seeing work that could later make its way into books, hearing poets muse about their writing lives, or watching notes and fragments coalesce into longer lyric explorations.

is one of the best-known poets on Substack, offering devoted readers a mix of never-before-seen work and poems from past collections. And his commitment to Substack’s potential as a propagator of new writing is especially inspiring to emerging writers.

Being witness to commitment and experimentation, that magical balance between discipline and freedom to explore, is riveting. I so admire , translator and former Random House editor ’s long-standing project to chronicle daily life:

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published4.11.25

what I so desired I can’t have

thank you blessed stars

Keep reading

Andrea Gibson’s gorgeously smart features videos of the poet reciting their work and contemplating illness, resilience, and the role that poetry plays in capturing duress, heartbreak, and hope. Here they are reading their poem “What Love Is”:

Keep watching

I was thrilled to see former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith join Substack recently. She’s already sharing poems, works in progress, and essays. Hear her reading a new poem, “I Don’t Believe in Doom,” here:

Keep listening

Then there’s , an ambitious translation project by , a writer dedicated to bringing these ancient poems from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to a contemporary audience. Hyun Woo translates one poem from the collection every week. Here’s one of my favorites, number 55:

The Farewell to Those Who Will Stay at a Tavern of JinlingThe wind blows the willow flowers, filling the inn with fragrance;The ladies of Wu press the liquor, calling to the guests to try.The young men of Jinling come and see each other off;Those who will go, those who will not, each empty his goblet.I invite you to ask the water flowing east, to test it:Which is short and which is long, the thoughts of farewell or itself?

Keep reading

Curators and craft

The poet-as-curator offers us an assortment of poems organized by their own idiosyncratic logic. It’s like receiving the perfect mixtape: songs you’ve known and loved for years, and others you’re grateful to discover for the first time. Chances are good that within any given roundup, at least one poem will speak to you, introducing you to a new voice.

’s is one of my go-tos. He has a phenomenal reader’s eye for juxtapositions that span ages, styles, and modes, creating unexpected—and delightful—tensions and correspondences. His thematic roundups extend far beyond expected subjects like love and death to more nuanced territories like therapy (“This is progress”) and mood (“Puff out the hot-air balloon now”). Through Sean, I was reminded to revisit one of my favorite Audre Lorde poems:

Shared in “This is progress” by Sean Singer

In my own newsletter, , I do something similar: curating Poems for Your Weekend around themes that serve as a prescription for your mind or soul, while exploring how neuroscience and mindset can help us live more sustainable and enriching artistic lives. Through it all, I write about the role of wonder in poetry, the subject of my PhD.

For subtle close readings of poems through the lens of life rather than the ivory tower, I turn to ’s , with its deeply thoughtful essays on the poems he selects each week. His recent post on the poems of Linda Pastan includes this gorgeous poem from Insomnia:

Imaginary ConversationText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedYou tell me to live each day as if it were my last. This is in the kitchen where before coffee I complain of the day ahead—that obstacle race of minutes and hours, grocery stores and doctors.

But why the last? I ask. Why not live each day as if it were the first— all raw astonishment, Eve rubbing her eyes awake that first morning, the sun coming up like an ingénue in the east?

You grind the coffee with the small roar of a mind trying to clear itself. I set the table, glance out the window where dew has baptized every living surface.

Keep reading

I love Devin’s remarks: “why the last is the kind of question I adore, a question that does not assume it knows what we are supposedly supposed to know, a question that mirthfully pushes back against the world, and wonders aloud about astonishment in the face of certainty.”

For those interested in craft, literary powerhouse recently joined Substack and is already offering excellent writing exercises, as helpful for readers hoping to understand poetry as for poets creating their own. His Exercise 036: Begin with the End introduced even this poetry veteran to a new term: anadiplosis! is a resource-rich space, featuring interviews, classes, craft essays, and more. A large group of poets and readers has gathered to take advantage, creating a vibrant community. And a special shoutout in this section to , a poet whose candid essays on navigating both the publishing and dating world as a woman are their own kind of education on living more bravely and authentically.

Final thoughts

Whether encountered in an anthology or a newsletter, poems remind us of what Williams knew: that vital truths exist within their lines that we can find nowhere else. And there’s a special joy in reading them on Substack, where poets find renewed pleasure in publishing on their own terms, and where readers can witness the process and join the discussion. The digital format extends poetry’s reach, bringing these voices to new audiences who might not normally encounter them. Here, poets and readers are participating in poetry’s oldest tradition: the passing of essential truths from one human heart to another. I hope you’ll join us. https://connect-test.layer3.press/articles/4e5d2cee-8bd4-4fb0-9331-48bbeded3a47

@ f10512df:c9293bb3

Chef's notes

Use a tea bag to hold the spices. I like to fill it and drape it on the side of the pan so the flavors get in, and then toss it before serving. Easier than picking rosemary out of your teeth later.

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 20 minutes
• 🍳 Cook time: 1 hour 45 from scratch, 45 if using chicken stock
• 🍽️ Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Carrots (sliced)
• 1C celery (sliced)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried minced onion
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice (or more to taste)
• 1/2 Tbsp salt (to taste)
• 1 rotisserie chicken
• 2 tsp dried rosemary (or 1-2 sprigs fresh)
• 8 C water & additional 1-2 C later
• 10 oz pre-cooked noodles
• 1 tsp cracked pepper (to taste)

Directions

1. Remove chicken meat from bones and set aside. Do not discard skin. Put bones and skin in a large stock pot and add water. Let boil covered for one hour, and then remove bones and strain out any bits of skin from broth.
2. Add chopped vegetables, spices, and lemon juice to broth with up to 2 C. additional water to replace what might have boiled away. Simmer over low to medium heat (covered) for another half hour, stirring occasionally. Add in chicken meat. Taste test and add additional salt if needed.
3. When vegetables are cooked, add in noodles and stir for an additional 2-3 minutes until hot (uncovered), and enjoy.
4. If using store bought chicken stock, only simmer until vegetables are cooked (about half an hour).

@ 9bde4214:06ca052b

"We have the chance of building the next iteration of the internet, and hopefully, not repeat the mistakes of the past."

Pablo & Gigi start ugly.

In this dialogue:

• Why starting ugly and shipping early is hard
• The ugliest thing that Pablo ever shipped
• “Happiness is shipping”
• Make it real first, you can make it pretty later
• Getting into the habit of shipping
• Highlighter and the hang-up of shipping something big
• How nostr allows you to have cash flow from the get-go

• value4value for artists and devs

• What DHH & 37Signals got right

People and projects mentioned:

• fiatjaf
• DHH
• SuperTestnet
• nostr.build
• Highlighter
• Primal
• ProtonMail
• Hey

Further links:

• https://excellentjourney.net/2015/03/04/art-fear-the-ceramics-class-and-quantity-before-quality/
• https://world.hey.com/dhh/that-shipping-feeling-b7c8c565
• https://world.hey.com/dhh/i-was-wrong-we-need-crypto-587ccb03
• https://sovereignengineering.io/
• https://dergigi.com/2023/04/04/purple-text-orange-highlights/
• https://highlighter.com/
• https://njump.me/nosolutions@sovereignengineering.io

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Tucked away in the rolling hills of southern France’s Hérault department, Montpeyroux is a charming medieval village known for its peaceful atmosphere, beautiful stone houses, and excellent Languedoc wines. It’s the kind of place where time seems to slow down, making it perfect for a relaxed stop on a southern France road trip.

🏡 Why Visit Montpeyroux?

🪨 Authentic Medieval Character

• Wander narrow cobbled streets lined with honey-colored stone houses
• Visit the remains of a medieval castle and old tower that offer stunning views over vineyards and hills
• A tranquil place that feels untouched by time

🍷 Wine Culture

• Surrounded by prestigious vineyards producing Coteaux du Languedoc wines
• Stop by local caves (wineries) to taste bold reds and crisp whites—many with stunning views over the valley
• Don’t miss the annual wine festivals and open cellars

🌄 Scenic Location

• Located near the Gorges de l’Hérault, perfect for hiking, swimming, or kayaking
• Just a short drive from Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, one of France’s most beautiful villages
• Great base for exploring the natural beauty of Occitanie

🍽️ Where to Eat

• Enjoy local cuisine at cozy bistros—think grilled lamb, duck confit, olives, and regional cheeses
• Many places serve seasonal dishes paired with local wines

🚗 Getting There

• Around 45 minutes by car from Montpellier
• Best explored by car as public transport is limited, but the countryside drive is worth it

@ 9a859fbc:8a9270f3

A story of art and inspiration

This image was generated by AI

That is...

I am artificial. I was created by two other humans (hi mum and dad 👋)

I am intelligent. I can perceive the world, experience it, learn to understand cause & effect, and make decisions.

To go perhaps deeper, cells, DNA and life itself are artifices of the fabric of reality.

I sat, in a pub in Bristol, a place where I rarely frequent. I sat with one housemate, who I rarely spent time with. I met his friends that day, only once, never we met again.

I got chatting with a lady there. I had some paper and pencils with me. My intention, for a couple of weeks, was to come up with a symbol to represent Deep Sea Frequencies, at that time still known as Psychedelic Jelly. We were a new collaboration.

She and I got chatting about art. About symbolic representation of concepts, feelings, ideas. We chatted about flow, about how there are different types of flow, different elemental conditions of flow. I doodled some shapes, and we noticed how fire, water and air all look similar due to their fluid natures. So we considered how to differentiate, distinguish them from one another.

I doodled some more, and we came up with swooshes, curls, crests and bubbles. These seemed to be distinguishing enough such that they were no longer reminiscent of fire or air. I doodled fire and air too, just in case, just to check.

Then we chatted about symmetry types, reflective, axes, rotational. About geometry, geometric containers. We both enjoy triangles and hexagons. (It's always hexagons!)

I doodled some more shapes and put them in hexagonal shapes. Then I tried bending them into triangular forms instead, and overlaid two triangles.

Each triangle looked like a triskelion. Perfect.

Overlaid, they looked just like the flow of water, coming up, spiralling down.

---

The logo was born in this moment, in this serendipitous meeting, in this unlikely chat with a total stranger. We met for the first time that day, and I'm not sure if we ever met again. This interaction was, is, precious, and it led to a particular creation that is now a core part of my life and is a highlight for many people around the UK and the world, as we put on events and released musicians' music.

This is inspiration. This is expression. This is flow, through the fluid nature of the cosmos.

This is what you miss out on when you talk into your AI LLM black hole prompt.

This is what you steal from when you demand your AI LLM to generate you something according to your whim.

Art and expression is the very foundation of human community. Join in! Try new things! Learn from each other! Bring us all closer together by interacting and creating through shared ideas, shared visions, shared wisdom!

---

After that, I drew it up cleanly, geometrically.

I photographed it like scanning it, carefully aligning the camera because I didn't have a scanner.

I redrew it more than twice.

I digitised it, colourised it, split it into two layers so I could apply colour & lighting effects to it.

I painstakingly traced the photograph into a vector format, to enlarge it and use it for various media.

I even more painstakingly (do we have a more extreme adverb??) divided all the vector shapes into new objects so that the layers became "real". And cleaned up the vector nodes, shaping them to my imagination.

The vector form is used all over our record label & events branding.

And then I imported the vector form into Blender, a 3D rendering application, free and open source.

I learnt Blender, day by day developing my understanding and my skills. Day by day my GPU crashing on raytracing and cutting the laptop's power out!

And finally, I learnt to make some simple renders that look like being underwater, like surreal glassy objects floating in the deep. I even learnt to animate it, although I haven't released that into the wild.

I imagined all of this stuff, and then I spent months over years developing my skills in my spare time in order to bring these imaginations to life.

You can do the same.

You have to sacrifice things.

Sacrifice your time.

Sacrifice your energy.

Sacrifice your distractions and enter yourself into the learning process and the creative process.

---

To you, amazing lady who helped me draw this symbol from the fabric of the Realm of Forms, thank you! I'm sorry that I don't recall your name, although actually I think I do remember but I would be embarrassed if I tagged the wrong person. Please reach out if you recognise this story! It was about 7, maybe 8 years ago, in the painted pub in St. Werburgh's.

@ 8cda1daa:e9e5bdd8

Bitcoin cracked the code for money.  Now it's time to rebuild everything else.

What about identity, trust, and collaboration? What about the systems that define how we live, create, and connect?

Bitcoin gave us a blueprint to separate money from the state. But the state still owns most of your digital life. It's time for something more radical.

Welcome to the Atomic Economy - not just a technology stack, but a civil engineering project for the digital age. A complete re-architecture of society, from the individual outward.

The Problem: We Live in Digital Captivity

Let's be blunt: the modern internet is hostile to human freedom.

You don't own your identity. You don't control your data. You don't decide what you see.

Big Tech and state institutions dominate your digital life with one goal: control.

• Poisoned algorithms dictate your emotions and behavior.
• Censorship hides truth and silences dissent.
• Walled gardens lock you into systems you can't escape.
• Extractive platforms monetize your attention and creativity - without your consent.

This isn't innovation. It's digital colonization.

A Vision for Sovereign Society

The Atomic Economy proposes a new design for society - one where: - Individuals own their identity, data, and value. - Trust is contextual, not imposed. - Communities are voluntary, not manufactured by feeds. - Markets are free, not fenced. - Collaboration is peer-to-peer, not platform-mediated.

It's not a political revolution. It's a technological and social reset based on first principles: self-sovereignty, mutualism, and credible exit.

So, What Is the Atomic Economy?

The Atomic Economy is a decentralized digital society where people - not platforms - coordinate identity, trust, and value.

It's built on open protocols, real software, and the ethos of Bitcoin. It's not about abstraction - it's about architecture.

Core Principles: - Self-Sovereignty: Your keys. Your data. Your rules. - Mutual Consensus: Interactions are voluntary and trust-based. - Credible Exit: Leave any system, with your data and identity intact. - Programmable Trust: Trust is explicit, contextual, and revocable. - Circular Economies: Value flows directly between individuals - no middlemen.

The Tech Stack Behind the Vision

The Atomic Economy isn't just theory. It's a layered system with real tools:

1. Payments & Settlement

• Bitcoin & Lightning: The foundation - sound, censorship-resistant money.
• Paykit: Modular payments and settlement flows.
• Atomicity: A peer-to-peer mutual credit protocol for programmable trust and IOUs.

2. Discovery & Matching

• Pubky Core: Decentralized identity and discovery using PKARR and the DHT.
• Pubky Nexus: Indexing for a user-controlled internet.
• Semantic Social Graph: Discovery through social tagging - you are the algorithm.

3. Application Layer

• Bitkit: A self-custodial Bitcoin and Lightning wallet.
• Pubky App: Tag, publish, trade, and interact - on your terms.
• Blocktank: Liquidity services for Lightning and circular economies.
• Pubky Ring: Key-based access control and identity syncing.

These tools don't just integrate - they stack. You build trust, exchange value, and form communities with no centralized gatekeepers.

The Human Impact

This isn't about software. It's about freedom.

• Empowered Individuals: Control your own narrative, value, and destiny.
• Voluntary Communities: Build trust on shared values, not enforced norms.
• Economic Freedom: Trade without permission, borders, or middlemen.
• Creative Renaissance: Innovation and art flourish in open, censorship-resistant systems.

The Atomic Economy doesn't just fix the web. It frees the web.

Why Bitcoiners Should Care

If you believe in Bitcoin, you already believe in the Atomic Economy - you just haven't seen the full map yet.

• It extends Bitcoin's principles beyond money: into identity, trust, coordination.
• It defends freedom where Bitcoin leaves off: in content, community, and commerce.
• It offers a credible exit from every centralized system you still rely on.
• It's how we win - not just economically, but culturally and socially.

This isn't "web3." This isn't another layer of grift. It's the Bitcoin future - fully realized.

Join the Atomic Revolution

• If you're a builder: fork the code, remix the ideas, expand the protocols.
• If you're a user: adopt Bitkit, use Pubky, exit the digital plantation.
• If you're an advocate: share the vision. Help people imagine a free society again.

Bitcoin promised a revolution. The Atomic Economy delivers it.

Let's reclaim society, one key at a time.

Learn more and build with us at Synonym.to.

@ 4ba8e86d:89d32de4

Cashu é Ecash para Bitcoin

Cashu é um sistema ecash Chaumian gratuito e de código aberto criado para Bitcoin. Cashu oferece privacidade quase perfeita para usuários de aplicativos Bitcoin de custódia. Ninguém precisa saber quem você é, quanto dinheiro você tem e com quem você faz transações.

O que é Cashu?

Cashu é um novo protocolo ecash para aplicativos de custódia Bitcoin que está totalmente integrado à rede Lightning. Um sistema Ecash consiste em duas partes, a carteira mint e a carteira ecash. Transações Ecash não rastreáveis, instantâneas e sem taxas. Cashu é construído para Bitcoin. As carteiras usam o nó Lightning da casa da moeda para fazer ou receber pagamentos em Bitcoin em troca de ecash. Uma casa da moeda Cashu não sabe quem você é, qual é o seu saldo ou com quem você está negociando.Os usuários de uma casa da moeda podem trocar ecash de forma privada, sem que ninguém saiba quem são as partes envolvidas. Os pagamentos em Bitcoin são executados sem que ninguém possa censurar usuários específicos.

A postagem de David Wagner em 1996 na lista de discussão Cypherpunk é a base da criptografia Cashu. Wagner descreve um sistema ecash usando troca de chave cega Diffie-Hellman em vez de RSA, na qual a implementação original de David Chaum foi baseada.

https://cypherpunks.venona.com/date/1996/03/msg01848.html

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecash

Como isso começou.

https://void.cat/d/2HJKtTEfuDxmDfh3uH9ZoS.webp https://void.cat/d/XyyHFSQYa5vEswzzt6MMq7.webp

Como vão as coisas.

https://void.cat/d/WUrKzsFDnsvUQdFKZChLeS.webp

Como funciona A Carteira Cashu é através de um esquema criptográfico chamado assinaturas cegas, descrito pela primeira vez pelo cypherpunk e criptógrafo David Chaum. Pense assim:você produz uma mensagem secreta e a envolve em um envelope feito de papel carbono que você envia para a casa da moeda. https://void.cat/d/SbEEHCiGFUHWvk4qGv9xCb.webp

A casa da moeda não pode ver o que está dentro do envelope. Ele assina do lado de fora dizendo "qualquer que seja esse segredo, vale 420 Satoshis”e o envia de volta para você. Como o envelope é realmente criptografado, somente você pode abri-lo e ver sua mensagem secreta (agora assinada por carbono). https://void.cat/d/Pakyb6ztW9B7L5ubAQ74eL.webp

Este segredo assinado é na verdade o seu token Ecash e vale Satoshis.

Você pode enviar e receber esses tokens para qualquer outra pessoa como quiser, seja com um mensageiro, via e-mail ou um pombo. A casa da moeda não sabe nada disso.

A anatomia de um token Cashu. https://void.cat/d/JzvxreMoCitmYe2FthAsei.webp

Um breve passo a passo de uma carteira cashu deixará tudo isso bem claro.

Comece abrindo

https://nutstash.app/

Pressione " WALLET " https://void.cat/d/VeCANsaxkkq9YtoPRS26ZK.webp https://void.cat/d/CTmK9GcPGn3i2gHCVXcL5r.webp https://void.cat/d/UWjyjGLS6MzyZvt6zkuUgG.webp https://void.cat/d/HzNtKanCSAJatrMa9yTKwF.webp

Pressione "+ ADD ".

Agora a carteira cashu está aberta… https://void.cat/d/GAYSrNxHEEhctoW37bFPjJ.webp

O próximo passo é deposite alguns sats com a Casa da moeda.

Pra depositar Pressione o botão "MINT". https://void.cat/d/LC5WEDKAzzZoHXxrKZDiWu.webp

Digite a quantidade de sats a ser depositado na carteira cashu depois Pressione " REQUEST MINT ". https://void.cat/d/Pr6foBWBBCq73i8WggbLGG.webp

Você Pode copiar a fatura ou ler o qrcode , no meu caso usei a carteira LNbits pra pagar a fatura de 10 sats , você tem 10 minutos pra pagar fatura. https://void.cat/d/BQerpEtW2H9ANaoW8truJE.webp https://void.cat/d/8PGFBRW64zavDnQJfYQh9C.webp

Agora pra enviar Ecash.

Pressione “SEND” https://void.cat/d/8rkF2dvhJeZWf8GeQhhf2d.webp

Digite 10 , Pressione “SEND” https://void.cat/d/5SK5w6ewgt8wikCuyk7znM.webp

Então o token Ecash usando a assinatura cega da casa da moeda foi criado. https://void.cat/d/PedBMcZPfczZLLymGmfzVq.webp

O Token Ecash foi criado é esse logo abaixo.

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

Se pressionar o botão " send as link "

Então criar link do token Ecash.

https://wallet.nutstash.app/#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 https://void.cat/d/U1UnyxsYgj516YbmkgQNkQ.webp Este token Ecash pode ser compartilhado como você quiser. Você pode enviá-lo por e-mail para alguém, enviá-lo em uma mensagem privada, um SMS ou convertê-lo em um código QR e imprimi-lo. Quem tiver este token pode resgatá-lo com o 10 sats.

Você verá que seu saldo caiu para 20 sats: https://void.cat/d/95AVkevmknKNzqRcnJZwQX.webp

Para resgatar um token Ecash sem o link, pressione o botão “Receive ” https://void.cat/d/UjrbAPn8mj5qGZYVQ1Ba2B.webp

cole-o token Ecash no campo

" token: "pressione "RECEIVE" https://void.cat/d/GZLcBgvHfaB3c5N66ygZyV.webp

Com o Link do token Ecash só pressionar no link vai abrir a tela já preencher automáticamente só pressionar " RECEIVE " https://void.cat/d/ARNkKCtchhFt4NCTkfRJRG.webp

Pra Ativa o Nostr na carteira vai na aba settings , pressione o botão ativa o Nostr. https://void.cat/d/MjoDA1dgueWUFABcQFDVRe.webp

Por padrão ficar ativo pra usar o " Use external Key (nos2x , outros) " Mas Nesse caso não vou usar vou desativar e vou ativa " Edit Nostr Keys " https://void.cat/d/BAA6eFkmK5f7BHzLwYLSGF.webp

Ao pressionar esse botão https://void.cat/d/VTNGVsLvwqfy3dWu4hhMSK.webp é gerar um novo par de chaves privadas e pública , assim podemos usar uma nova chave a cada pagamentos. Aumentando a privacidade no pagamentos.

A pois Ativa o Nostr na carteira , você pode enviar Sats / Ecash via Nostr.

Pressione " Send " https://void.cat/d/R2Svye4XPd2VdHfPxT1DzF.webp

Pressione " Send " https://void.cat/d/AwLeBBr2db2wrTHHUHwEPs.webp

Agora pode adicionar npud / hex / nip-05 pra enviar token. https://void.cat/d/VZR6BUXjG7pm3FDogrDvo4.webp

Pressione " SEND OVER NOSTR " pra enviar o token Ecash. https://void.cat/d/MWveqpmii5dqpioa5a3wVt.webp

Pra quem não tem a carteira nutstash , pode entra no seu cliente Nostr no meu caso e snort nostr , Demora algums minutos pra chegar mensagem com o token Ecash.. https://void.cat/d/MVg3fPD7PAzZUskGCCCcps.webp https://void.cat/d/YNtKuCbQYo1wef7pJcjhKy.webp

Ja se a outra pessoa usar carteira nutstash com a chave pública que você mandou chegar mais rápido. Essa bolinha azul no campo " Indox " Indica que você recebeu o pagamento já está pronto pra ser regastado. https://void.cat/d/So6FAp4wiTUeKBBmRBU2Rv.webp

Pressione "Indox " depois pressione a seta. https://void.cat/d/TqYNYDoyy9fUFas9NFxReJ.webp

Pressione " TRUS MINT " pra recebe os Token Ecash. https://void.cat/d/LP6zUTZ3HDPxd6fLvPPNXB.webp

O aplicativo de resgate Cashu, que permite resgatar tokens Ecash via Lightning.

https://redeem.cashu.me/ https://void.cat/d/Mw9kzDHr4A469EjFNoTHyB.webp

Cola o Token no campo " paste in your Cashu Ecash token.. " https://void.cat/d/SkA3MGJaGGxCjNnzeBhPHP.webp

Pressione " REDEEM " pra converter Ecash em Lightning. https://void.cat/d/693C1yfwYz3P3BQB6f7xXN.webp

Você pode editar e manda já pronto pra pessoa só basta a pessoa ou você aberta em " REDEEM " pra converter Ecash em Lightning.

https://redeem.cashu.me/?token=token ecash=&to=Lightning address

Exemplo:

https://redeem.cashu.me/?token=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&to=alexemidio@ln.tips

Obs: o teclado do celular pode adicionar "=" a mais ou corrigir " &to " com "&tô" assim escrevendo errado, tanto erro no link.

" SWAP " transferência de uma carteira para outra. Pressione " INTER-MINT SWAP" https://void.cat/d/PsCdoLAmYpYCChkgqTAE7p.webp

A carteira que você selecionar em cima é a carteira de saídas e a carteira de baixo e a carteira de entrada. https://void.cat/d/VKY6ts6qttJmCaefrduv4K.webp

Agora digita o valor que quer fazer o SWAP. Após Pressione " CONFIRM AMOUNT" https://void.cat/d/WuuQqeC1mSQUufb75eeMbw.webp

Depois Tem que pressionar " SWAP " não esqueça. https://void.cat/d/Eb2ajSaZfzZkBEWBv8tuk.webp

Pronto antes a primeira Carteira tinha 10 Ecash, e segunda carteira tinha 8 Ecash.

Somando 18 Ecash.

Apois o SWAP Agora as duas tem 9.

Somando 18. https://void.cat/d/8yRtSoFyih2D2KEm66h6in.webp

Fazer o backup da sua carteira cashu ecash. Pressione " BACKUP TOKENS " https://void.cat/d/26vtnDiVP4YpDiQmunatko.webp

Você pode editar o nome do backup E pode alterar o local aonde vai salva o arquivo 📂 do backup. Depois só pressionar " Baixar " https://void.cat/d/PQH94o81U23txdmyx3cHEn.webp

Agora pra recuperar a carteira cashu ecash. Pressione " RESTORE " https://void.cat/d/2vkLS1qUCbJ1XXjSLBou25.webp

Pressione " CONTINUAR " https://void.cat/d/PCbT2UPSLtwcZohwbhD85A.webp

Click no espaço em branco vai abrir pra encontrar o arquivo 📂 Do backup.. https://void.cat/d/P1VC7b46oNe62v4puVZ79b.webp

Selecionar o arquivo 📂 de backup. https://void.cat/d/D6FAGxYRquz2WWwNznSAzT.webp

Pressione " CONTINUE" https://void.cat/d/HicRn5e2feSRicgjy6kuC5.webp

Pressione " CONTINUE" https://void.cat/d/VP6uh8bXHz42PBGrPwGq5e.webp

Backup feito com sucesso. Só aberta " Ok " https://void.cat/d/QsZV1umL9DhoPtEXBMfPtY.webp

O eCash pode ser útil em diversas situações, oferecendo várias vantagens. Uma das principais vantagens do uso de tokens eCash é a privacidade que oferece. Como as transações usando eCash são quase impossíveis de rastrear, isso pode ser útil para quem deseja manter sua atividade financeira privada. O eCash pode ser especialmente útil para Pagamento de serviços em áreas rurais , pode ser difícil acessar serviços financeiros tradicionais, como bancos ou caixas eletrônicos. O uso de tokens eCash pode permitir que as pessoas paguem por serviços como transporte , serviços de saúde ou eletricidade sem a necessidade de viajar para áreas urbanas. No entanto, é importante lembrar que o uso do eCash ainda apresenta riscos e desafios. Como o eCash cashubtc ainda é bem novo , pode haver falhas de segurança ou outras vulnerabilidades que ainda não foram identificadas use com cautela poucos Sats.

Obrigado por ler, e espero que você dedique alguns minutos para experimentar o eCash e ver do que se trata melhor.

Alguma artigos e vídeos a baixo.

https://cashu.space/

https://docs.cashu.space/

https://github.com/cashubtc/

https://youtu.be/UNjVc-WYdgE

https://youtu.be/_XmQSpAhFN4

https://youtu.be/zdtRT7phXBo

https://maxmoney.substack.com/p/ecash-for-better-bitcoin-privacy?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web

https://cypherpunks.venona.com/date/1996/03/msg01848.html

Encontre-me ou envie um zap para nostr alexemidio@ln.tips alexemidio@alexemidio.github.io

Twitter: alexemidio7

@ a39d19ec:3d88f61e

Die Debatte um Migration, Grenzsicherung und Abschiebungen wird in Deutschland meist emotional geführt. Wer fordert, dass illegale Einwanderer abgeschoben werden, sieht sich nicht selten dem Vorwurf des Rassismus ausgesetzt. Doch dieser Vorwurf ist nicht nur sachlich unbegründet, sondern verkehrt die Realität ins Gegenteil: Tatsächlich sind es gerade diejenigen, die hinter jeder Forderung nach Rechtssicherheit eine rassistische Motivation vermuten, die selbst in erster Linie nach Hautfarbe, Herkunft oder Nationalität urteilen.

Das Recht steht über Emotionen

Deutschland ist ein Rechtsstaat. Das bedeutet, dass Regeln nicht nach Bauchgefühl oder politischer Stimmungslage ausgelegt werden können, sondern auf klaren gesetzlichen Grundlagen beruhen müssen. Einer dieser Grundsätze ist in Artikel 16a des Grundgesetzes verankert. Dort heißt es:

„Auf Absatz 1 [Asylrecht] kann sich nicht berufen, wer aus einem Mitgliedstaat der Europäischen Gemeinschaften oder aus einem anderen Drittstaat einreist, in dem die Anwendung des Abkommens über die Rechtsstellung der Flüchtlinge und der Europäischen Menschenrechtskonvention sichergestellt ist.“

Das bedeutet, dass jeder, der über sichere Drittstaaten nach Deutschland einreist, keinen Anspruch auf Asyl hat. Wer dennoch bleibt, hält sich illegal im Land auf und unterliegt den geltenden Regelungen zur Rückführung. Die Forderung nach Abschiebungen ist daher nichts anderes als die Forderung nach der Einhaltung von Recht und Gesetz.

Die Umkehrung des Rassismusbegriffs

Wer einerseits behauptet, dass das deutsche Asyl- und Aufenthaltsrecht strikt durchgesetzt werden soll, und andererseits nicht nach Herkunft oder Hautfarbe unterscheidet, handelt wertneutral. Diejenigen jedoch, die in einer solchen Forderung nach Rechtsstaatlichkeit einen rassistischen Unterton sehen, projizieren ihre eigenen Denkmuster auf andere: Sie unterstellen, dass die Debatte ausschließlich entlang ethnischer, rassistischer oder nationaler Kriterien geführt wird – und genau das ist eine rassistische Denkweise.

Jemand, der illegale Einwanderung kritisiert, tut dies nicht, weil ihn die Herkunft der Menschen interessiert, sondern weil er den Rechtsstaat respektiert. Hingegen erkennt jemand, der hinter dieser Kritik Rassismus wittert, offenbar in erster Linie die „Rasse“ oder Herkunft der betreffenden Personen und reduziert sie darauf.

Finanzielle Belastung statt ideologischer Debatte

Neben der rechtlichen gibt es auch eine ökonomische Komponente. Der deutsche Wohlfahrtsstaat basiert auf einem Solidarprinzip: Die Bürger zahlen in das System ein, um sich gegenseitig in schwierigen Zeiten zu unterstützen. Dieser Wohlstand wurde über Generationen hinweg von denjenigen erarbeitet, die hier seit langem leben. Die Priorität liegt daher darauf, die vorhandenen Mittel zuerst unter denjenigen zu verteilen, die durch Steuern, Sozialabgaben und Arbeit zum Erhalt dieses Systems beitragen – nicht unter denen, die sich durch illegale Einreise und fehlende wirtschaftliche Eigenleistung in das System begeben.

Das ist keine ideologische Frage, sondern eine rein wirtschaftliche Abwägung. Ein Sozialsystem kann nur dann nachhaltig funktionieren, wenn es nicht unbegrenzt belastet wird. Würde Deutschland keine klaren Regeln zur Einwanderung und Abschiebung haben, würde dies unweigerlich zur Überlastung des Sozialstaates führen – mit negativen Konsequenzen für alle.

Sozialpatriotismus

Ein weiterer wichtiger Aspekt ist der Schutz der Arbeitsleistung jener Generationen, die Deutschland nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg mühsam wieder aufgebaut haben. Während oft betont wird, dass die Deutschen moralisch kein Erbe aus der Zeit vor 1945 beanspruchen dürfen – außer der Verantwortung für den Holocaust –, ist es umso bedeutsamer, das neue Erbe nach 1945 zu respektieren, das auf Fleiß, Disziplin und harter Arbeit beruht. Der Wiederaufbau war eine kollektive Leistung deutscher Menschen, deren Früchte nicht bedenkenlos verteilt werden dürfen, sondern vorrangig denjenigen zugutekommen sollten, die dieses Fundament mitgeschaffen oder es über Generationen mitgetragen haben.

Rechtstaatlichkeit ist nicht verhandelbar

Wer sich für eine konsequente Abschiebepraxis ausspricht, tut dies nicht aus rassistischen Motiven, sondern aus Respekt vor der Rechtsstaatlichkeit und den wirtschaftlichen Grundlagen des Landes. Der Vorwurf des Rassismus in diesem Kontext ist daher nicht nur falsch, sondern entlarvt eine selektive Wahrnehmung nach rassistischen Merkmalen bei denjenigen, die ihn erheben.

@ 54609048:8e22ba03

One of the greatest threats facing liberty lovers around the world today is the rise of the biomedical security state—the militarization of healthcare. COVID-19 was merely a compliance test, and sadly, most failed it dismally. But pay attention: “pandemic response,” war-gamed at elite gatherings like Davos, is steadily morphing into official health policy through backdoor mechanisms—diabolical agreements like the WHO Pandemic Treaty, which effectively transfers sovereign pandemic authority to Bill Gates via the WHO; the rollout of digital IDs; and the global push for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

This biomedical Leviathan requires all three pillars to be firmly in place before it can unleash a never-ending cycle of pandemics. The goal? To normalize draconian measures like those witnessed in 2020, thereby dismantling not only national sovereignty but, more dangerously, individual sovereignty. A digital ID won't merely confirm your identity—it will track your vaccination status, movements, and even your sentiments, all to determine what privileges you're allowed. Meanwhile, the CBDC will act not just as a means of transaction but as an enforcement mechanism—particularly for dissenters. This is why having an alternative like Bitcoin is not just relevant, but essential.

Vaccines are a cornerstone of this architecture—not only as instruments of control but also as tools for "redesigning" humanity. Welcome to the realm of transhumanism. The merger of man and machine through brain-computer interfaces and artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction; it's a stated goal. In this context, vaccines are not merely preventative medicine but potentially covert instruments of eugenics. This could explain the near-religious devotion to these pharmaceutical products—despite their increasingly controversial outcomes and questionable safety record—especially when mandates enter the equation.

The first piece of property any individual owns upon birth is their body. And yet, this sacred ownership is violated at birth when governments mandate certain injections—often administered without informed parental consent. I've often wondered: Why, despite mounting evidence to the contrary, is vaccine efficacy treated as “settled science”? Why is it taboo to question vaccines or hold their manufacturers accountable for harm, even as we’re expected to believe—without scrutiny—that they are “safe and effective”? We’re told our refusal to comply endangers everyone else who took a product supposedly designed to protect them. Strange, isn’t it? If it’s so effective, why must everyone take it simultaneously?

If you're wondering where this seemingly off-the-cuff rant is headed, here's the point: when the state mandates vaccines, it violates your property rights over your own body. It’s a direct claim of ownership over you, dressed up in moral language like “we're all in this together.” You're guilt-tripped into compliance under the pretense of saving “grandma.” But the truth is, if your rights can be suspended for the collective, they were never yours to begin with.

The biomedical security state will manufacture a permanent state of emergency under the guise of “pandemic preparedness.” You’ll be expected—required, even—to inject yourself with the latest mRNA-based bioweapon, all in the name of public health. Some will die. Others will become incapacitated—zombies or vegetables. The altar of compliance will be merciless towards those that bow before it.

Public health agencies like the CDC, WHO, and NIH are on track to become as powerful as central banks. In fact, they may soon act as arms of monetary policy enforcement. Don’t believe it? Look into what was happening in the repo markets in September 2019—just months before the global shutdown. While you're at it, investigate how many elderly pensioners quietly dropped dead like flies between 2021 and 2023, either from the virus or the vaccine. I’ll let the numbers speak for themselves.

These agencies are becoming the new face of the war machine. Vaccines will be marketed as shields against biological threats—“benevolent” weapons to protect us from invisible enemies. And if history is any guide, the next “9/11-style” event will be biological in nature.

The lunatics running the asylum will seize any such crisis to strip away more of your freedoms while simultaneously redesigning the global economy—consolidating even more power in their hands. For a blueprint of this ambition, look no further than Klaus Schwab’s COVID-19: The Great Reset.

The only antidote is a decentralized parallel system of medicine—one that stands entirely outside the Big Pharma cartel. This will require not only a network of courageous healthcare providers but also a new generation of researchers willing to ask uncomfortable questions and challenge sacred cows in the pursuit of truth. Add independent scientific journals to the mix, and we can finally dismantle the machinery that suppresses unprofitable—but potentially life-saving—treatments.

In my view, none of this is viable at scale without decentralized money. Enter Bitcoin. It’s not a panacea, but it’s a crucial tool for realigning incentives. Bitcoin renders CBDCs dead on arrival and undermines the foundation of any future social credit system—where vaccine compliance will be its crown jewel.

The biomedical state is not coming—it’s already here, creeping into every corner of our lives. It will be the scepter of a new technocratic tyranny. So beware the white coats who worship the state. They are not here to heal—they are here to rule.

A more polished series of articles on this topic is forthcoming. Stay tuned.

@ 70c48e4b:00ce3ccb

Hello reader,

I can say from personal experience that crowdfunding has truly changed my life. I found people who believed in my dream of using Bitcoin as money. Every single one of my videos was made possible through crowdfunding. And I’m not alone. I know several Bitcoiners who have raised funds this way, from Africa to Korea to Haiti.

https://images.forbesindia.com/media/images/2022/Jul/img_190501_runwithbitcoin_bg.jpg

Crowdfunding is deeply rooted in the traditional financial world. From raising money for life-saving surgeries to helping someone open a local coffee shop, platforms like GoFundMe, Kickstarter, and Indiegogo have become essential tools for many. But behind all the heartwarming stories and viral campaigns, there’s a side of crowdfunding that doesn’t get talked about enough. Traditional platforms are far from perfect.

They are centralized, which means there’s always someone in control. These platforms can freeze campaigns, delay payouts, or take a significant cut of the money. And often, the people who need funding the most, those without access to strong banking systems or large social media followings are the ones who get left out.

Here are some of the problems I’ve noticed with these platforms:

Problem 1: Inequality in Who Gets Funded

A recent article in The Guardian pointed out something that’s hard to ignore. Crowdfunding often benefits people who already have influence. After the Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025, celebrities like Mandy Moore were able to raise funds quickly. At the same time, everyday people who lost their homes struggled to get noticed.

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f8398505e58ec3c04685aab06e94048e5d7b6a0c/0_127_4800_2880/master/4800.jpg?width=1300&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none

Angor (https://angor.io/) changes that by removing the need for a central platform to choose which projects get featured or promoted. Anyone can share their project. People can find them on Angor Hub (https://hub.angor.io/), which is a public directory built on the Nostr protocol. Instead of relying on popularity, projects are highlighted based on transparency and engagement.

Problem 2: Platform Dependence and Middlemen

Here’s something people don’t often realize. When you raise funds online, the platform usually has control. It holds the money, decides when to release it, and can freeze everything without warning. This happened during the trucker protests in Canada in 2022. Tens of millions of dollars were raised, but platforms like GoFundMe and GiveSendGo froze the donations. The funds never reached the people they were meant for. Supporters were left confused, and the recipients had no way to access what had been raised for them.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Convoi_de_la_libert%C3%A9_%C3%A0_Ottawa_01.jpg/800px-Convoi_de_la_libert%C3%A9_%C3%A0_Ottawa_01.jpg

Angor avoids all of this. It does not hold the funds, does not require approval processes, and only the project creator has control over the campaign. Contributions go directly from supporters to the people building the project, using Bitcoin. It is a peer-to-peer system that works without any gatekeepers. Angor never touches the money. It simply provides the tools people need to raise funds and build, while staying fully in control.

Problem 3: Global Access

Another major issue is that these platforms often exclude people based on where they live. If you're in a region with limited banking access or outside the supported list of countries, you’re likely shut out. In 2023, a woman named Samar in Gaza tried to raise funds for food and medical supplies during a crisis. A friend abroad set up a campaign to help, but the platform froze it due to "location-related concerns." The funds were locked, and the support never arrived in time.

https://images.gofundme.com/EMFtPWSLs3P9SewkzwZ4FtaBQSA=/720x405/https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/78478731_1709065237698709_r.jpeg

Angor removes these barriers by using Bitcoin, which works globally without needing banks or approvals. Anyone, anywhere, can raise and receive support directly.

Problem 4: Lack of Transparency

Post-funding transparency is often lacking. Backers rarely get consistent updates, making it difficult to track a project's progress or hold anyone accountable.

In 2015, the Zano drone project on Kickstarter raised over £2.3 million from more than 12,000 backers. It promised a compact, smart drone for aerial photography. But as time went on, updates became rare and vague. Backers had little insight into the project’s struggles, and eventually, it was canceled. The company shut down, and most backers never received their product or a refund.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/2A0A/production/_86626701_ff861eeb-ce94-43b7-9a43-b30b5adbd7ab.jpg

Angor takes a different approach. Project updates are shared through Nostr, a decentralized and tamper-proof communication protocol. This allows backers to follow progress in real time, with no corporate filters and no blackout periods. Everyone stays in the loop, from start to finish.

Problem 5: Fraud and Accountability

Scams are a growing problem in the crowdfunding world. People can launch fake campaigns, collect donations, and vanish — leaving supporters with empty promises and no way to recover their money. One well-known example was the "Homeless Vet GoFundMe scam" in the U.S.

https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2018/09/720/405/1536549443584.jpg

A couple and a homeless man raised over $400,000 by telling a heartwarming story that later turned out to be completely fake. The money was spent on luxury items, and it took a legal investigation to uncover the truth. By the time it was resolved, most of the funds were gone.

This kind of fraud is hard to stop on traditional platforms, because once the funds are transferred, there’s no built-in structure to verify how they’re used.

On Angor, projects are funded in stages, with each step tied to a specific milestone. Bitcoin is held in a shared wallet that only unlocks funds when both the backer and the creator agree that the milestone is complete. If something feels off, backers can choose to stop and recover unspent funds.

This structure discourages scammers from even trying. It adds friction for bad actors, while still giving honest creators the freedom to build trust, deliver value, and raise support transparently. It can’t get any better than this

So, does Angor matter?

For me, it really does. I’m genuinely excited to have my project listed on Angorhub. In a world shaped by AI, open source and transparency light the way forward. Let the work shine on its own.

Have you tried Angor yet? Thanks for tuning in. Catch you next week. Ciao!

Guest blog: Paco nostr:npub1v67clmf4jrezn8hsz28434nc0y5fu65e5esws04djnl2kasxl5tskjmjjk

References:

• The Guardian, 2025: Crowdfunding after LA fires and inequality - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/17/la-fires-gofundme-mandy-moore
• https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/15/johnny-bobbitt-gofundme-scam-arrest-viral-gas-story-couple-charged
• FundsforNGOs: The Success Story of an NGO That Scaled with Limited Resources

https://www2.fundsforngos.org/articles/the-success-story-of-an-ngo-that-scaled-with-limited-resources/ • https://www.freightwaves.com/news/gofundme-freezes-37m-until-organizers-of-canada-trucker-convoy-detail-spending-plan

@ 10f7c7f7:f5683da9

The first time I received a paycheque from a full-time job, after being told in the interview I would be earning one amount, the amount I received was around 25% less; you’re not in Kansas anymore, welcome to the real work and TAX. Over the years, I’ve continued to pay my taxes, as a good little citizen, and at certain points along the way, I have paid considerable amounts of tax, because I wouldn’t want to break the law by not paying my taxes. Tax is necessary for a civilised society, they say. I’m told, who will pay, at least in the UK, for the NHS, who will pay for the roads, who will pay for the courts, the military, the police, if I don’t pay my taxes? But let’s be honest, apart from those who pay very little to no tax, who, in a society actually gets good value for money out of the taxes they pay, or hears of a government institution that operates efficiently and effectively? Alternatively, imagine if the government didn’t have control of a large military budget, would they be quite so keen to deploy the young of our country into harm’s way, in the name of national security or having streets in Ukraine named after them for their generous donations of munition paid with someone else’s money?

While I’m only half-way through the excellent “Fiat Standard”, I’m well aware that many of these issues have been driven by the ability of those in charge to not only enforce and increase taxation at will, but also, if ends don’t quite meet, print the difference, however, these are rather abstract and high-level ideas for my small engineer’s brain. What has really brought this into sharp focus for me is the impending sale of my first house, that at the age of 25, I was duly provided a 40-year mortgage and was required to sign a form acknowledging that I would still be paying the mortgage after my retirement age. Fortunately for me, thanks to the government now changing the national age of retirement from 65 to 70 (so stealing 5 years of my retirement), in practice this form didn’t need to be signed, lucky me? Even so, what type of person would knowingly put another person in a situation where near 40% of their wage would mainly be paying interest to the bank (which as a side note was bailed out only a few years later). The unpleasant taste really became unbearable when even after being put into this “working life” sentence of debt repayment, was, even with the amount I’d spent on the house (debt interest and maintenance) over the subsequent 19 years, only able to provide a rate of return of less than 1.6%, compared to the average official (bullshit) inflation figure of 2.77%. My house has not kept up with inflation and to add insult to financial injury, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs feel the need to take their portion of this “profit”.

At which point, I take a very deep breath, sit quietly for a moment, and channel my inner Margot, deciding against grabbing a bottle of bootleg antiseptic to both clear my pallet and dull the pain. I had been convinced I needed to get on the housing ladder to save, but the government has since printed billions, with the rate of, even the conservative estimates of inflation, out pacing my meagre returns on property, and after all that blood, sweet, tears and dust, covering my poor dog, “the law” states some of that money is theirs. I wasn’t able to save in the money that they could print at will, I worked very hard, I took risks and the reward I get is to give them even more money to fritter away of things that won’t benefit me. But, I don’t want your sympathy, I don’t need it, but it helped me to get a new perspective on capital gains, particularly when considered in relation to bitcoin. So, to again draw from Ms. Paez, who herself was drawing from everyone’s favourite Joker, Heath Ledger, not Rachel Reeves (or J. Powell), here we go. 

The Sovereign Individual is by no means an easy read, but is absolutely fascinating, providing clear critiques of the system that at the time was only in its infancy, but predicting many aspects of today’s world, with shocking accuracy. One of the most striking parts for me was the critique and effect of taxation (specifically progressive forms) on the prosperity of a nation at large. At an individual level, people have a proportion of their income removed, to be spent by the government, out of the individuals’ control. The person who has applied their efforts, abilities and skills to earn a living is unable to decide how best to utilise a portion of the resources into the future. While this is an accepted reality, the authors’ outline the cumulative, compound impact of forfeiting such a large portion of your wage each year, leading to figures that are near unimaginable to anyone without a penchant for spreadsheets or an understanding of exponential growth. Now, if we put this into the context of the entrepreneur, identifying opportunities, taking on personal and business risk, whenever a profit is realised, whether through normal sales or when realising value from capital appreciation, they must pay a portion of this in tax. While there are opportunities to reinvest this back into the organisation, there may be no immediate investment opportunities for them to offset their current tax bill. As a result, the entrepreneurs are hampered from taking the fruits of their labour and compounding the results of their productivity, forced to fund the social programmes of a government pursuing aims that are misaligned with individuals running their own business. Resources are removed from the most productive individuals in the society, adding value, employing staff, to those who may have limited knowledge of the economic realities of business; see Oxbridge Scholars, with experience in NGOs or charities, for more details please see Labour’s current front bench. What was that Labour? Ah yes, let’s promote growth by taxing companies more and making it more difficult to get rid of unproductive staff, exactly the policies every small business owner has been asking for (Budget October 2024).

Now, for anyone on NOSTR, none of this is new, a large portion of Nostriches were orange pilled long before taking their first purple pill of decentralise Notes and Other Stuff. However, if we’re aware of this system that has been put in place to steal our earnings and confiscate our winnings if we have been able to outwit the Keynesian trap western governments have chosen to give themselves more power, how can we progress? What options do we have? a) being locked up for non-payment of taxes by just spending bitcoin, to hell with paying taxes or b) spend/sell (:/), but keeping a record of those particular coins you bought multiple years ago, in order to calculate your gain and hand over YOUR money the follow tax year, so effectively increasing the cost of anything purchased in bitcoin. Please note, I’m making a conscious effort not to say what should be done, everyone needs to make decisions based on their knowledge and their understanding.

Anyway, option a) is not as flippant as one might think, but also not something one should (damn it) do carelessly. One bitcoin equals one bitcoin, bitcoin is money, as a result, it neither increases nor decreases is value, it is fiat currencies that varies wildly in comparison. If we think about gold, the purchasing power of gold has remained relatively consistent over hundreds of years, gold is viewed as money, which (as a side note) results in Royal Mint gold coins being both exempt of VAT and capital gains tax. While I may consider this from a, while not necessarily biased, but definitely pro-bitcoin perspective, I believe that it is extremely logical for transactions that take place in bitcoin should not require “profits” or “losses” to be reports, but this is where my logic and the treasury’s grabbiness  are inconsistent. If what you’re buying is priced in bitcoin, you’re trading goods or services for money, there was no realisation of gains. Having said that, if you choose to do this, best not do any spending from a stack with a connection to an exchange and your identify. When tax collectors (and their government masters) end up not having enough money, they may begin exploring whether those people buying bitcoin from exchanges are also spending it.

But why is this relevant or important? For me and from hearing from many people on podcasts, while not impossible and not actually that difficult, recording gains on each transaction is firstly a barrier for spending bitcoin, it is additional effort, admin and not insignificant cost, and no one likes that. Secondly, from my libertarian leaning perspective, tax is basically the seizure of assets under the threat of incarceration (aka theft), with the government spending that money on crap I don’t give a shit about, meaning I don’t want to help fund their operation more than I already do. The worry is, if I pay more taxes, they think they’re getting good at collecting taxes, they increase taxes, use taxes to employ more tax collectors, rinse and repeat. From this perspective, it is almost my duty not to report when I transact in bitcoin, viewing it as plain and simple, black-market money, where the government neither dictates what I can do with it, nor profit from its appreciation.

The result of this is not the common mantra of never sell your bitcoin, because I, for one, am looking forward to ditching the fiat grind and having more free time driving an interesting 90’s sports car or riding a new mountain bike, which I will need money to be fund. Unless I’m going to take a fair bit of tax evasion-based risk, find some guys who will only accept my KYC free bitcoin and then live off the grid, I’ll need to find another way, which unfortunately may require engaging once more with the fiat system. However, this time, rather than selling bitcoin to buy fiat, looking for financial product providers who offer loans against bitcoin held. This is nothing new, having  been a contributing factors to the FTX blow up, and the drawdown of 2022, the logic of such products is solid and the secret catalyst to Mark Moss’s (and others) buy, borrow, die strategy. The difference this time is to earn from our mistakes, to choose the right company and maybe hand over our private keys (multisig is a beautiful thing). The key benefit of this is that by taking a loan, you’re not realising capital gains, so do not create a taxable event. While there is likely to be an interest on any loan, this only makes sense if this is considerably less than either the capital gains rate incurred if you sold the bitcoin or the long-term capital appreciation of the bitcoin you didn’t have to sell, it has to be an option worth considering. 

Now, this is interacting with the fiat system, it does involve the effective printing of money and depending on the person providing the loan, there is risk, however, there are definitely some positives, even outside the not inconsiderable, “tax free” nature of this money. Firstly, by borrowing fiat money, you are increasing the money supply, while devaluing all other holders of that currency, which effectively works against fiat governments, causing them to forever print harder to stop themselves going into a deflationary nose drive. The second important aspect is that if you have not had to sell your bitcoin, you have removed sell pressure from the market and buying pressure that would strengthen the fiat currency, so further supporting the stack you have not had to sell.

Now, let’s put this in the context of The Sovereign Individual or the entrepreneurial bitcoiner, who took a risk before fully understanding what they were buying and has now benefiting financially. The barrier of tax-based admin or the reticence to support government operations through paying additional tax are not insignificant, which the loan has allowed you to effectively side step, keeping more value of your holdings to allocate as you see fit. While this may involve the setting up of a new business that itself may drive productive growth, even if all you did was spend that money (such as a sport car or a new bike), this could still be a net, economic positive compared to a large portion of that money being sucked into the government spending black hole. While the government would not be receiving that tax revenue, every retailer, manufacturer or service provider would benefit from this additional business. Rather than the tax money going toward interest costs or civil servant wages, the money would go towards the real businesses you have chosen, their staff’s wages, who are working hard to outcompete their peers. Making this choice to not pay capital gains does not just allow bitcoiner to save money and to a small degree, reduce government funding, but also provides a cash injection to those companies who may still be reeling from minimum wage AND national insurance increases.

I’m not an ethicist, so am unable to provide a clear, concise, philosophical argument to explain why the ability of government to steal from you via the processes of monetary inflation as well as an ever-increasing tax burden in immoral, but I hope this provides a new perspective on the situation. I don’t believe increases in taxes support economic development (it literally does the opposite), I don’t believe that individuals should be penalised for working hard, challenging themselves, taking risks and succeeding. However, I’m not in charge of the system and also appreciate that if any major changes were to take place, the consequences would be significant (we’re talking Mandibles time). I believe removing capital gains tax from bitcoin would be a net positive for the economy and there being precedence based on the UK’s currently position with gold coins, but unfortunately, I don’t believe people in the cabinet think as I do, they see people with assets and pound signs ring up at their eyes.

As a result, my aim moving forward will be to think carefully before making purchases or sales that will incur capital gains tax (no big Lambo purchase for me at the top), but also being willing the promote the bitcoin economy by purchasing products and services with bitcoin. To do this, I’ll double confirm that spend/replace techniques actually get around capital gains by effectively using the payment rails of bitcoin to transfer value rather than to sell your bitcoin. This way, I will get to reward and promote those companies to perform at a level that warrants a little more effort with payment, without it costing me an additional 18-24% in tax later on.

So, to return to where we started and my first pay-cheque. We need to work to earn a living, but as we earn more, an ever-greater proportion is taken from us, and we are at risk of becoming stuck in a never ending fiat cycle. In the past, this was more of an issue, leading people into speculating on property or securities, which, if successful, would then incur further taxes, which will likely be spent by governments on liabilities or projects that add zero net benefits to national citizens. Apologies if you see this as a negative, but please don’t, this is the alternative to adopting a unit of account that cannot be inflated away. If you have begun to measure your wealth in bitcoin, there will be a point where you need to start to start spending. I for one, do not intend to die with my private keys in my head, but having lived a life, turbo charged by the freedom bitcoin has offered me. Bitcoin backed loans are returning to the market, with hopefully a little less risk this time around. There may be blow ups, but once they get established and interest costs start to be competed away, I will first of all acknowledge remaining risks and then not allocate 100% of my stack. Rather than being the one true bitcoiner who has never spent a sat, I will use the tools at my disposal to firstly give my family their best possible lives and secondly, not fund the government more than I need to. 

Then, by the time I’m ready to leave this earth, there will be less money for me to leave to my family, but then again, the tax man would again come knocking, looking to gloat over my demise and add to my family’s misery with an outstretched hand. Then again, this piece is about capital gains rather than inheritance tax, so we can leave those discussions for another time.

This is not financial advice, please consult a financial/tax advisor before spending and replacing without filing taxes and don’t send your bitcoin to any old fella who says they’ll return it once you’ve paThe first time I received a paycheque from a full-time job, after being told in the interview I would be earning one amount, the amount I received was around 25% less; you’re not in Kansas anymore, welcome to the real work and TAX. Over the years, I’ve continued to pay my taxes, as a good little citizen, and at certain points along the way, I have paid considerable amounts of tax, because I wouldn’t want to break the law by not paying my taxes. Tax is necessary for a civilised society, they say. I’m told, who will pay, at least in the UK, for the NHS, who will pay for the roads, who will pay for the courts, the military, the police, if I don’t pay my taxes? But let’s be honest, apart from those who pay very little to no tax, who, in a society actually gets good value for money out of the taxes they pay, or hears of a government institution that operates efficiently and effectively? Alternatively, imagine if the government didn’t have control of a large military budget, would they be quite so keen to deploy the young of our country into harm’s way, in the name of national security or having streets in Ukraine named after them for their generous donations of munition paid with someone else’s money? While I’m only half-way through the excellent “Fiat Standard”, I’m well aware that many of these issues have been driven by the ability of those in charge to not only enforce and increase taxation at will, but also, if ends don’t quite meet, print the difference, however, these are rather abstract and high-level ideas for my small engineer’s brain. What has really brought this into sharp focus for me is the impending sale of my first house, that at the age of 25, I was duly provided a 40-year mortgage and was required to sign a form acknowledging that I would still be paying the mortgage after my retirement age. Fortunately for me, thanks to the government now changing the national age of retirement from 65 to 70 (so stealing 5 years of my retirement), in practice this form didn’t need to be signed, lucky me? Even so, what type of person would knowingly put another person in a situation where near 40% of their wage would mainly be paying interest to the bank (which as a side note was bailed out only a few years later). The unpleasant taste really became unbearable when even after being put into this “working life” sentence of debt repayment, was, even with the amount I’d spent on the house (debt interest and maintenance) over the subsequent 19 years, only able to provide a rate of return of less than 1.6%, compared to the average official (bullshit) inflation figure of 2.77%. My house has not kept up with inflation and to add insult to financial injury, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs feel the need to take their portion of this “profit”.

At which point, I take a very deep breath, sit quietly for a moment, and channel my inner Margot, deciding against grabbing a bottle of bootleg antiseptic to both clear my pallet and dull the pain. I had been convinced I needed to get on the housing ladder to save, but the government has since printed billions, with the rate of, even the conservative estimates of inflation, out pacing my meagre returns on property, and after all that blood, sweet, tears and dust, covering my poor dog, “the law” states some of that money is theirs. I wasn’t able to save in the money that they could print at will, I worked very hard, I took risks and the reward I get is to give them even more money to fritter away of things that won’t benefit me. But, I don’t want your sympathy, I don’t need it, but it helped me to get a new perspective on capital gains, particularly when considered in relation to bitcoin. So, to again draw from Ms. Paez, who herself was drawing from everyone’s favourite Joker, Heath Ledger, not Rachel Reeves (or J. Powell), here we go.

The Sovereign Individual is by no means an easy reaD, but is absolutely fascinating, providing clear critiques of the system that at the time was only in its infancy, but predicting many aspects of today’s world, with shocking accuracy. One of the most striking parts for me was the critique and effect of taxation (specifically progressive forms) on the prosperity of a nation at large. At an individual level, people have a proportion of their income removed, to be spent by the government, out of the individuals’ control. The person who has applied their efforts, abilities and skills to earn a living is unable to decide how best to utilise a portion of the resources into the future. While this is an accepted reality, the authors’ outline the cumulative, compound impact of forfeiting such a large portion of your wage each year, leading to figures that are near unimaginable to anyone without a penchant for spreadsheets or an understanding of exponential growth. Now, if we put this into the context of the entrepreneur, identifying opportunities, taking on personal and business risk, whenever a profit is realised, whether through normal sales or when realising value from capital appreciation, they must pay a portion of this in tax. While there are opportunities to reinvest this back into the organisation, there may be no immediate investment opportunities for them to offset their current tax bill. As a result, the entrepreneurs are hampered from taking the fruits of their labour and compounding the results of their productivity, forced to fund the social programmes of a government pursuing aims that are misaligned with individuals running their own business. Resources are removed from the most productive individuals in the society, adding value, employing staff, to those who may have limited knowledge of the economic realities of business; see Oxbridge Scholars, with experience in NGOs or charities, for more details please see Labour’s current front bench. What was that Labour? Ah yes, let’s promote growth by taxing companies more and making it more difficult to get rid of unproductive staff, exactly the policies every small business owner has been asking for (Budget October 2024).

Now, for anyone on NOSTR, none of this is new, a large portion of Nostriches were orange pilled long before taking their first purple pill of decentralise Notes and Other Stuff. However, if we’re aware of this system that has been put in place to steal our earnings and confiscate our winnings if we have been able to outwit the Keynesian trap western governments have chosen to give themselves more power, how can we progress? What options do we have? a) being locked up for non-payment of taxes by just spending bitcoin, to hell with paying taxes or b) spend/sell (:/), but keeping a record of those particular coins you bought multiple years ago, in order to calculate your gain and hand over YOUR money the follow tax year, so effectively increasing the cost of anything purchased in bitcoin. Please note, I’m making a conscious effort not to say what should be done, everyone needs to make decisions based on their knowledge and their understanding.

Anyway, option a) is not as flippant as one might think, but also not something one should (damn it) do carelessly. One bitcoin equals one bitcoin, bitcoin is money, as a result, it neither increases nor decreases is value, it is fiat currencies that varies wildly in comparison. If we think about gold, the purchasing power of gold has remained relatively consistent over hundreds of years, gold is viewed as money, which (as a side note) results in Royal Mint gold coins being both exempt of VAT and capital gains tax. While I may consider this from a, while not necessarily biased, but definitely pro-bitcoin perspective, I believe that it is extremely logical for transactions that take place in bitcoin should not require “profits” or “losses” to be reports, but this is where my logic and the treasury’s grabbiness are inconsistent. If what you’re buying is priced in bitcoin, you’re trading goods or services for money, there was no realisation of gains. Having said that, if you choose to do this, best not do any spending from a stack with a connection to an exchange and your identify. When tax collectors (and their government masters) end up not having enough money, they may begin exploring whether those people buying bitcoin form exchanges are also spending it.

But why is this relevant or important? For me and from hearing from many people on podcasts, while not impossible and not actually that difficult, recording gains on each transaction is firstly a barrier for spending bitcoin, it is additional effort, admin and not insignificant cost, and no one likes that. Secondly, from my libertarian leaning perspective, tax is basically the seizure of assets under the threat of incarceration (aka theft), with the government spending that money on crap I don’t give a shit about, meaning I don’t want to help fund their operation more than I already do. The worry is, if I pay more taxes, they think they’re getting good at collecting taxes, they increase taxes, use taxes to employ more tax collectors, rinse and repeat. From this perspective, it is almost my duty not to report when I transact in bitcoin, viewing it as plain and simple, black-market money, where the government neither dictates what I can do with it, nor profit from its appreciation.

The result of this is not the common mantra of never sell your bitcoin, because I, for one, am looking forward to ditching the fiat grind and having more free time driving an interesting 90’s sports car or riding a new mountain bike, which I will need money to be fund. Unless I’m going to take a fair bit of tax evasion-based risk, find some guys who will only accept my KYC free bitcoin and then live off the grid, I’ll need to find another way, which unfortunately may require engaging once more with the fiat system. However, this time, rather than selling bitcoin to buy fiat, looking for financial product providers who offer loans against bitcoin held. This is nothing new, having been a contributing factors to the FTX blow up, and the drawdown of 2022, the logic of such products is solid and the secret catalyst to Mark Moss’s (and others) buy, borrow, die strategy. The difference this time is to earn from our mistakes, to choose the right company and maybe hand over our private keys (multisig is a beautiful thing). The key benefit of this is that by taking a loan, you’re not realising capital gains, so do not create a taxable event. While there is likely to be an interest on any loan, this only makes sense if this is considerably less than either the capital gains rate incurred if you sold the bitcoin or the long-term capital appreciation of the bitcoin you didn’t have to sell, it has to be an option worth considering.

Now, this is interacting with the fiat system, it does involve the effective printing of money and depending on the person providing the loan, there is risk, however, there are definitely some positives, even outside the not inconsiderable, “tax free” nature of this money. Firstly, by borrowing fiat money, you are increasing the money supply, while devaluing all other holders of that currency, which effectively works against fiat governments, causing them to forever print harder to stop themselves going into a deflationary nose drive. The second important aspect is that if you have not had to sell your bitcoin, you have removed sell pressure from the market and buying pressure that would strengthen the fiat currency, so further supporting the stack you have not had to sell. Now, let’s put this in the context of The Sovereign Individual or the entrepreneurial bitcoiner, who took a risk before fully understanding what they were buying and has now benefiting financially. The barrier of tax-based admin or the reticence to support government operations through paying additional tax are not insignificant, which the loan has allowed you to effectively side step, keeping more value of your holdings to allocate as you see fit. While this may involve the setting up of a new business that itself may drive productive growth, even if all you did was spend that money (such as a sport car or a new bike), this could still be a net, economic positive compared to a large portion of that money being sucked into the government spending black hole. While the government would not be receiving that tax revenue, every retailer, manufacturer or service provider would benefit from this additional business. Rather than the tax money going toward interest costs or civil servant wages, the money would go towards the real businesses you have chosen, their staff’s wages, who are working hard to outcompete their peers. Making this choice to not pay capital gains does not just allow bitcoiner to save money and to a small degree, reduce government funding, but also provides a cash injection to those companies who may still be reeling from minimum wage AND national insurance increases.

I’m not an ethicist, so am unable to provide a clear, concise, philosophical argument to explain why the ability of government to steal from you via the processes of monetary inflation as well as an ever-increasing tax burden in immoral, but I hope this provides a new perspective on the situation. I don’t believe increases in taxes support economic development (it literally does the opposite), I don’t believe that individuals should be penalised for working hard, challenging themselves, taking risks and succeeding. However, I’m not in charge of the system and also appreciate that if any major changes were to take place, the consequences would be significant (we’re talking Mandibles time). I believe removing capital gains tax from bitcoin would be a net positive for the economy and there being precedence based on the UK’s currently position with gold coins, but unfortunately, I don’t believe people in the cabinet think as I do, they see people with assets and pound signs ring up at their eyes.

As a result, my aim moving forward will be to think carefully before making purchases or sales that will incur capital gains tax (no big Lambo purchase for me at the top), but also being willing the promote the bitcoin economy by purchasing products and services with bitcoin. To do this, I’ll double confirm that spend/replace techniques actually get around capital gains by effectively using the payment rails of bitcoin to transfer value rather than to sell your bitcoin. This way, I will get to reward and promote those companies to perform at a level that warrants a little more effort with payment, without it costing me an additional 18-24% in tax later on.

So, to return to where we started and my first pay-cheque. We need to work to earn a living, but as we earn more, an ever-greater proportion is taken from us, and we are at risk of becoming stuck in a never ending fiat cycle. In the past, this was more of an issue, leading people into speculating on property or securities, which, if successful, would then incur further taxes, which will likely be spent by governments on liabilities or projects that add zero net benefits to national citizens. Apologies if you see this as a negative, but please don’t, this is the alternative to adopting a unit of account that cannot be inflated away. If you have begun to measure your wealth in bitcoin, there will be a point where you need to start to start spending. I for one, do not intend to die with my private keys in my head, but having lived a life, turbo charged by the freedom bitcoin has offered me. Bitcoin backed loans are returning to the market, with hopefully a little less risk this time around. There may be blow ups, but once they get established and interest costs start to be competed away, I will first of all acknowledge remaining risks and then not allocate 100% of my stack. Rather than being the one true bitcoiner who has never spent a sat, I will use the tools at my disposal to firstly give my family their best possible lives and secondly, not fund the government more than I need to.

Then, by the time I’m ready to leave this earth, there will be less money for me to leave to my family, but then again, the tax man would again come knocking, looking to gloat over my demise and add to my family’s misery with an outstretched hand. Then again, this piece is about capital gains rather than inheritance tax, so we can leave those discussions for another time.

This is not financial advice, please consult a financial/tax advisor before spending and replacing without filing taxes and don’t send your bitcoin to any old fella who says they’ll return it once you’ve paid off the loan.

@ d360efec:14907b5f

ความทรงจำเรานั้นเชื่อได้แน่หรือ ?

"เพราะจิตเราเกิดดับทุกเสี้ยววินาที ทุกความทรงจำจึงสร้างขึ้นมาใหม่เสมอ ดังนั้นมันก็ไม่เหมือนต้นฉบับเป็นธรรมดา แต่ยังคงเค้าโครงเดิมอยู่ ความเปลี่ยนแปลงจึงเป็นนิรันดร์ค่ะ" - Lina Engword

เรามักจะคิดว่าความทรงจำของเราคือการบันทึกเหตุการณ์ในอดีตไว้อย่างแม่นยำ เหมือนการดูวิดีโอ 📼 หรือเปิดไฟล์คอมพิวเตอร์ 💾 แต่ในความเป็นจริงแล้ว แนวคิดนี้อาจไม่ใช่ภาพที่สมบูรณ์ บทความที่เรานำมาวิเคราะห์นี้ได้นำเสนอข้อคิดที่น่าสนใจเกี่ยวกับธรรมชาติของความทรงจำมนุษย์ ความน่าเชื่อถือของมัน และเชื่อมโยงไปถึงความจำเป็นในการฝึกฝนจิตตามหลักพุทธศาสนาเพื่อเข้าถึงความจริงที่เที่ยงแท้ 🧘‍♀️🔍

ความทรงจำไม่ใช่การบันทึก แต่เป็นการสร้างใหม่ 🏗️🧩

ประเด็นสำคัญที่บทความชี้ให้เห็นคือ ความทรงจำของมนุษย์ไม่ได้ทำงานเหมือนการ "บันทึก" เหตุการณ์ไว้ตายตัว 📼❌ แต่เปรียบเสมือน "ชิ้นส่วนของโค้ด" 💻 ที่จะถูก "สร้างขึ้นใหม่" 🏗️ ทุกครั้งที่เราพยายามระลึกถึง นั่นหมายความว่า ทุกครั้งที่เราดึงความทรงจำเก่าๆ กลับมา มันไม่ใช่การเปิดไฟล์เดิมซ้ำๆ แต่เป็นการประกอบชิ้นส่วนเหล่านั้นขึ้นมาใหม่ในห้วงเวลานั้นๆ กระบวนการนี้เองที่เปิดโอกาสให้เกิดการ "เติมเต็ม" ✨ หรือ "แก้ไข" ✏️ ข้อมูลในความทรงจำอยู่เสมอ ทำให้ความทรงจำที่เราเพิ่งนึกถึงอาจไม่เหมือนกับความทรงจำครั้งก่อนหน้าเสียทีเดียว 🔄

การปรุงแต่งด้วยเหตุผลและความคุ้นเคย 🤔➕🏠

สิ่งที่น่าสนใจอย่างยิ่งคือ ในกระบวนการ "สร้างใหม่" หรือ "ประกอบ" ความทรงจำขึ้นมานี้ มนุษย์มักจะเติม "เหตุผล"💡 หรือใส่สิ่งที่ตนเอง "คุ้นเคย" 🏠 ลงไปในเรื่องราวที่ระลึกได้เสมอ แม้ว่าสิ่งเหล่านั้นอาจจะไม่ได้เกิดขึ้นจริงหรือไม่เกี่ยวข้องโดยตรงกับเหตุการณ์นั้นๆ ก็ตาม ยกตัวอย่างเช่น เมื่อเราเล่าเรื่องในอดีต เรามักจะอธิบายว่าทำไมเราถึงทำสิ่งนั้น หรือทำไมเหตุการณ์นี้ถึงเกิดขึ้น โดยใส่เหตุผลที่เราคิดว่าสมเหตุสมผลในปัจจุบันลงไป สิ่งนี้ทำให้เรื่องราวในความทรงจำของเราดูมีความเชื่อมโยงและฟังดู "จริง" ✅ มากขึ้นในสายตาของเราเอง

เมื่อเราใส่เหตุผลหรือรายละเอียดที่คุ้นเคยลงไปในความทรงจำบ่อยครั้งเข้า มันก็จะยิ่งทำให้เรา "เชื่อ" 👍 โดยสนิทใจว่าสิ่งที่เราระลึกได้นั้นคือความจริงทั้งหมด ทั้งที่ความเป็นจริงของเหตุการณ์ดั้งเดิมอาจแตกต่างออกไป 🤥 นี่คือสาเหตุว่าทำไมคนสองคนจึงอาจมีความทรงจำเกี่ยวกับเหตุการณ์เดียวกันที่แตกต่างกันอย่างสิ้นเชิง ซึ่งปรากฏการณ์นี้สามารถอธิบายได้ดีด้วยตัวอย่างคลาสสิกในภาพยนตร์เรื่อง "ราโชมอน" (Rashomon) 🎬 ที่นำเสนอเหตุการณ์เดียวผ่านมุมมองและความทรงจำของตัวละครที่ขัดแย้งกันอย่างสิ้นเชิง แต่ทุกคนต่างเชื่อในสิ่งที่ตนเองจำได้ว่าเป็นความจริง 🤔❓

เครื่องมือและกระบวนการช่วยตรวจสอบความจริง 📱📹📝🔍

จากข้อจำกัดโดยธรรมชาติของความทรงจำนี้เอง ทำให้เห็นว่าเราไม่สามารถพึ่งพาสิ่งที่ 'จำได้' เพียงอย่างเดียวได้หากต้องการเข้าถึงความจริงที่เที่ยงแท้ เราจึงจำเป็นต้องมี 'กระบวนการตรวจสอบ' 🤔🔍 มาช่วยยืนยันหรือแก้ไขข้อมูลในความทรงจำ

ในยุคปัจจุบัน เรามีเครื่องมือภายนอกมากมายที่ช่วยในกระบวนการนี้ เช่น กล้องจากสมาร์ทโฟน 📱 หรือกล้องวงจรปิด 📹 ที่บันทึกเหตุการณ์ต่างๆ ไว้ได้อย่างเป็นกลาง ทำให้เรามี 'หลักฐาน' 📄 ที่เป็นรูปธรรมไว้อ้างอิงเพื่อเปรียบเทียบกับความทรงจำส่วนตัว ซึ่งบ่อยครั้งสิ่งที่กล้องเห็นนั้น 'ตรงกับความจริง' ✅ ในมุมมองที่ปราศจากอคติมากกว่าสิ่งที่ใจเราจำได้ การจดบันทึกด้วยเสียง 🎤 หรือการจดบันทึกเป็นลายลักษณ์อักษร 📝 ในทันที ก็เป็นอีกวิธีหนึ่งที่ช่วย 'ตรึง' ข้อมูลเบื้องต้นไว้ได้ระดับหนึ่งเช่นกัน ✍️

นอกจากเครื่องมือภายนอกแล้ว 'กระบวนการตรวจสอบเชิงจิตวิทยา' 🤔🧠 ที่เป็นระบบ ก็สามารถช่วยให้มนุษย์ค้นพบความจริงได้เช่นกัน ไม่ว่าจะเป็นกระบวนการซักถามในเชิงนิติวิทยาศาสตร์ 👮‍♀️ หรือแม้กระทั่งการฝึกฝนจิตเพื่อให้สามารถสังเกตการณ์ทำงานของตนเองได้อย่างละเอียดลึกซึ้ง ซึ่งนำเราไปสู่แนวคิดตามหลักพุทธศาสนา...

ทำไมพุทธศาสนาจึงสอนไม่ให้เชื่อแม้เป็นความคิดตัวเอง? 🙏🧠❌

จากธรรมชาติของความทรงจำและกระบวนการปรุงแต่งของจิตใจที่อธิบายมานี้เอง ทำให้เราเห็นความเชื่อมโยงกับหลักคำสอนในพุทธศาสนา 🙏 ที่เน้นย้ำให้เรา "ไม่เชื่อแม้แต่ความคิดตัวเอง" 🧠❌ อย่างปราศจากการพิจารณา เพราะความคิด อารมณ์ ความทรงจำ หรือแม้แต่ความรู้สึกมั่นใจอย่างแรงกล้าที่เรามีนั้น อาจถูกสร้างขึ้นหรือปรุงแต่งโดยกลไกของจิตใจที่ไม่ได้สะท้อนความจริงทั้งหมด 🤥

พุทธศาสนาชี้ให้เห็นว่า การจะเข้าถึงความจริงที่แท้จริงได้นั้น 🔍 จำเป็นต้องมีกระบวนการตรวจสอบภายในจิตใจ เปรียบเสมือนการสร้าง "อัลกอริทึม" 🤖 เพื่อตรวจทานว่าสิ่งที่เราคิดหรือจำได้นั้นเป็นความจริงหรือไม่ ✅❌ การจะทำเช่นนี้ได้ ไม่ใช่เรื่องง่าย และต้องอาศัยการฝึกฝนจิตอย่าง "สมาธิอย่างมาก" 🧘‍♂️🧘‍♀️ เพื่อให้จิตมีความตั้งมั่น เป็นระบบ และสามารถ "เห็นการดำเนินไปของจิตได้อย่างเป็นระบบ" 👀🔬 เห็นว่าจิตปรุงแต่งความทรงจำอย่างไร เห็นว่าเหตุผลที่เราใส่เข้าไปนั้นจริงหรือไม่ เป็นเพียงการตีความ หรือเป็นเพียงสิ่งที่ใจเราอยากให้เป็น

บทความยังกล่าวเสริมว่า ความทรงจำที่ "สด" ✨ หรือใกล้เคียงกับเวลาที่เกิดเหตุการณ์นั้นมักจะมีความน่าเชื่อถือมากกว่า 👍 แม้จะดู "ดิบๆ" หรือไม่ผ่านการปรุงแต่งมากนัก ซึ่งสอดคล้องกับแนวคิดที่ว่ายิ่งระยะเวลาผ่านไปนานเท่าไหร่ ⏳ ยิ่งมีการเรียกคืนความทรงจำนั้นๆ บ่อยครั้ง ความทรงจำก็ยิ่งมีโอกาสถูกแก้ไข เติมเต็ม หรือปรุงแต่งด้วยเหตุผลและความคุ้นเคยมากขึ้นเท่านั้น 🔄✏️

"ใดๆในโลกนั้นคือสมมุติ ความคิดความทรงจำ ก็เป็นสมมุติเพียง แต่เราต้องรู้จักใช้สมมุติให้เป็นประโยชน์ และรู้จักใช้มันให้เป็นเพื่อดำรงอยู่บนโลก"

สรุป ✨🧠🔍

โดยสรุปแล้ว บทความนี้เตือนใจเราว่า ความทรงจำของเราไม่ใช่กล้องวิดีโอที่บันทึกทุกอย่างไว้แม่นยำ 📼❌ แต่เป็นกระบวนการสร้างสรรค์ที่ซับซ้อนซึ่งมีแนวโน้มที่จะถูกปรุงแต่งด้วยเหตุผล ความคุ้นเคย และการตีความของเราเอง 🏗️🤔🏠 ความมั่นใจที่เรามีต่อสิ่งที่จำได้นั้น ไม่ได้เป็นหลักประกันว่าเป็นความจริงเสมอไป 👍🤥

การตระหนักถึงธรรมชาติข้อนี้ของจิต และการใช้เครื่องมือภายนอก 📱📹📝 รวมถึงการฝึกฝนจิตให้สามารถสังเกตการณ์ทำงานของมันได้อย่างละเอียดรอบคอบตามหลักพุทธศาสนา 🙏🧘‍♀️ จึงเป็นกุญแจสำคัญที่จะช่วยให้เราสามารถแยกแยะระหว่าง "ความจริง" ✅ กับ "สิ่งที่จิตปรุงแต่งขึ้น" 🤥 ได้มากขึ้น และช่วยให้เราเข้าใกล้ความเข้าใจในธรรมชาติของสรรพสิ่งได้อย่างเที่ยงตรง ไม่หลงติดอยู่ในวังวนของความทรงจำและความคิดที่อาจบิดเบือนไปจากความเป็นจริง 🔄

---

**#ความทรงจำ #จิตวิทยา #พุทธศาสนา #สมอง #สมาธิ #การฝึกจิต #ราโชมอน #ความจริง #ไม่เชื่อความคิด #ธรรมชาติของจิต #พัฒนาตนเอง #บทความน่ารู้ #เทคโนโลยี #บันทึกความจริง #พระอภิธรรม #พระหฤทัยสูตร #LinaEngword **

@ 4c86f5a2:935c3564

Write Test Postr

@ d360efec:14907b5f

“คณิตศาสตร์” กุญแจเวทมนตร์ นักพนัน และ นักลงทุน ในนครเฮรันเทล นามกระฉ่อนเลื่องลือในหมู่นักเสี่ยงโชค เมื่อเอ่ยถึง “การพนัน” ภาพที่ชาวเมืองมักนึกถึงคือ “ยาจกข้างถนน”

มิใช่เรื่องแปลกประหลาดอันใด เพราะเป็นที่ร่ำลือกันว่า จ้าวแห่งหอคอยรัตติกาล ผู้คุมบ่อนพนัน มักร่ายเวทมนตร์สร้างเกมให้ตนเองได้เปรียบ เพื่อดูดกลืนเงินทองของผู้มาเยือน ดังนั้น การที่สามัญชนจะพิชิตเกมในระยะยาว จึงเป็นดั่งเงามายาที่จับต้องมิได้ กระนั้น ยังมีตำนานกล่าวขานถึงผู้กล้า ที่สามารถสร้างชื่อจาก “เกมพนัน” เช่น เวเนสซา รุสโซ นักเวทย์มนตร์ผู้ใช้กฎหมายแห่งแดนไกล ใช้เวลายาวนานถึงหกปี ร่ายเวทย์สะสมทรัพย์สินกว่าร้อยล้านเหรียญทอง จากการเล่นเกมไพ่ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ “โป๊กเกอร์” หรือแม้แต่ เอ็ดเวิร์ด โอ. ทอร์ป จอมปราชญ์ผู้สร้างกำไรถึงสามแสนหกหมื่นเหรียญทอง ภายในเจ็ดราตรี จากการเล่นเกมไพ่มนตรา “แบล็กแจ็ก” ด้วยเงินทุนตั้งต้นเพียงสามแสนสามหมื่นเหรียญทอง คิดเป็นอัตราเวทย์ตอบแทนร้อยสิบส่วน! เหล่าจอมยุทธ์เหล่านี้ มิได้อาศัยเพียงโชคช่วยชั่วครั้งชั่วคราวแล้วเลือนหาย แต่พวกเขากลับสามารถร่ายเวทย์สร้างผลตอบแทนระยะยาว จนเรียกได้ว่า ใช้ “หอคอยรัตติกาล” เป็นแหล่งเสบียงเลี้ยงชีพ โดยกุญแจเวทย์ที่บุคคลเหล่านี้ใช้ ก็คือ “คณิตศาสตร์” เหตุใด “คณิตศาสตร์” จึงช่วยให้ผู้คนเอาชนะ “การพนัน” ได้? และนอกจาก “การพนัน” แล้ว “คณิตศาสตร์” ยังสามารถประยุกต์ใช้กับสิ่งใดได้อีก? นักเล่าเรื่องแห่งเฮรันเทล จักไขปริศนาให้ฟัง เบื้องต้น ขอให้ท่านลองพิจารณาตนเอง ว่าเคยประสบพบพานเหตุการณ์เหล่านี้หรือไม่: * ตั้งมั่นว่า จักเสี่ยงโชคให้ได้กำไรเพียงเล็กน้อย แล้วจักหยุดพัก * แต่หากพลาดท่าเสียที จักจำกัดการสูญเสียให้เท่าทุนเดิมที่ตั้งไว้ * ครั้นเมื่อเวทมนตร์เข้าข้าง ได้กำไรมาแล้ว กลับโลภโมโทสัน อยากได้เพิ่มอีกนิด จึงร่ายเวทย์ต่อ * ทว่ากำไรเริ่มร่อยหรอ จนเหลือเพียงทุนเดิม สุดท้ายทุนที่ตั้งไว้คราแรกก็มลายสิ้น * จำต้องหาเงินทองมาลงเพิ่ม หวังทวงทุนคืน และพบว่าต้องสูญเสียเงินก้อนนั้นไปในห้วงเวลาต่อมา ลำดับเหตุการณ์ดังกล่าว เรียกได้ว่าเป็น “วงจรอุบาทว์” สำหรับนักพนันมากมายในเฮรันเทล ปริศนาที่ตามมาก็คือ เหตุใด “วงจรอุบาทว์” นี้จึงเกิดขึ้นซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่า? ส่วนหนึ่ง ย่อมเป็นเพราะอารมณ์อันแปรปรวนในการเสี่ยงโชคของแต่ละคน แต่อีกส่วนที่สำคัญยิ่งกว่า ต้องกล่าวว่าเป็นผลจาก “กลไกต้องสาป” ของจ้าวแห่งหอคอยรัตติกาล ซึ่งต้องกล่าวว่า เหล่าเจ้าของหอคอยรัตติกาลนั้น จักใช้หลักการทำนองเดียวกับ “สมาคมพ่อค้าผู้พิทักษ์” คือจักเก็บเงินทองจากชนจำนวนมาก เพื่อนำมาจ่ายให้กับชนเพียงหยิบมือ เพื่อล่อลวงให้ชนทั้งหลายเสี่ยงโชคต่อไป หรือทำให้เหล่านักพนันหวังว่า จักเป็นผู้โชคดีเฉกเช่นพวกเขาบ้าง แม้จะมีผู้โชคดีที่สามารถได้กำไรในเบื้องต้น แต่ในบั้นปลายก็จักพ่ายแพ้อยู่ดี ซึ่งเป็นไปตาม “กฎแห่งจำนวนมหาศาล” เพราะจ้าวแห่งหอคอยรัตติกาลนั้น ได้คำนวณและออกแบบระบบเกมที่ตนเองได้เปรียบในระยะยาวแล้ว จากตำนานนี้ ย่อมประจักษ์ชัดว่า แม้การพนันจักเป็นเรื่องของดวงชะตา แต่ก็ถูกรังสรรค์ขึ้นจากการคำนวณทางคณิตศาสตร์ ดังนั้น หากปรารถนาจะหาหนทางเอาชนะจ้าวแห่งหอคอยรัตติกาล ก็จำต้องเข้าใจ “คณิตศาสตร์” เสียก่อน ทีนี้ จงเงี่ยหูฟัง แล้วท่านจักได้ยินข้าไขปริศนา: ๑. ปริศนาแห่ง “กำไรคาดหวัง” สำหรับการแสวงหา “เกมเสี่ยงทาย” ที่ควรค่าแก่การเล่น หรือการเสี่ยง สิ่งแรกที่นักพนันพึงกระทำคือ “การประเมินกำไรคาดหวัง” หรือ “เวทคำนวณอนาคต” “กำไรคาดหวัง” ถูกคิดค้นโดย คริสเตียน ฮอยเกนส์ นักปราชญ์เวทย์ชาวดัตช์ เพื่อประเมินว่าเกมพนันแบบใดควรค่าแก่การเล่น ซึ่งมิใช่เพียงแค่การประเมินโอกาสแห่งชัยชนะเท่านั้น แต่ต้องคิดรวมขนาดของเงินเดิมพันไปด้วย โดยสูตรเวทย์คือ: กำไรคาดหวัง = (เงินที่ได้ x โอกาสชนะ) + (เงินที่เสีย x โอกาสแพ้) ดังนั้น หากปรารถนาจะสะสม “ทองคำมายา” ในระยะยาว จงเลือกเกมที่มี “กำไรคาดหวัง” เป็นบวก แต่หากพลาดพลั้งเข้าไปเล่นเกมที่ “กำไรคาดหวัง” เป็นลบ และบังเอิญว่าโชคชะตาเล่นตลกให้ได้เงินทองมาครอง พึงละทิ้งเกมนั้นเสียโดยพลัน เพราะท้ายที่สุดหากยังคงเล่นต่อไป ผู้อับโชคผู้นั้นก็คือตัวท่านเอง อย่างไรก็ตาม โดยธรรมดาแล้ว “กำไรคาดหวัง” ของเกมพนันที่มีเจ้ามือมักจักติดลบ จึงเป็นเรื่องยากยิ่งที่จะเอาชนะได้ เฉกเช่นตัวอย่างที่เราเห็น คือเกมในบ่อนพนัน หรือแม้แต่ “สลากกินแบ่งรัฐบาล” ก็ล้วนเป็นเกมที่มี “กำไรคาดหวัง” ติดลบทั้งสิ้น นอกจาก “กำไรคาดหวัง” จักถูกใช้กับการพนันได้แล้ว หลักเวทย์ “คณิตศาสตร์” ก็ยังสามารถประยุกต์ใช้กับการลงทุนได้ไม่แตกต่างกัน ตัวอย่างเช่น หากท่านเก็บสถิติข้อมูลการลงทุนของตนเอง แล้วพบว่ามีเพียงสามสิบส่วนร้อยเท่านั้น ที่ท่านซื้อ “ศิลาแห่งโชค” แล้วสร้างผลตอบแทนเป็นบวก แต่ท่านยังคงปรารถนาความสำเร็จในการลงทุน ก็จงจำกัดการขาดทุนแต่ละคราให้น้อยเข้าไว้ เช่น -๕% และปล่อยให้มีกำไรในแต่ละคราที่ลงทุน เช่น อย่างน้อย ๒๐% ซึ่งจากการใช้กลยุทธ์นี้ ท่านจักมี “กำไรคาดหวัง” = (๒๐% x ๐.๓) + (-๕% x ๐.๗) = ๒.๕% จักเห็นได้ว่า แม้ท่านจักมีจำนวนคราที่ขาดทุนบ่อยครั้ง แต่ก็ยังสามารถสร้างกำไรได้ หากคราที่กำไรนั้น สามารถทำเงินทองเป็นจำนวนมากได้ ๒. ปริศนาแห่ง “การบริหารหน้าตัก” หรือ “การบริหารเงินทุน” แม้ว่าท่านจักรับรู้ “กำไรคาดหวัง” แล้ว แต่หากท่านเผชิญหน้ากับการขาดทุนต่อเนื่องกัน ท่านก็อาจหมดเนื้อหมดตัวก่อนถึงคราที่จะกอบโกยเงินทองจากคราที่กำไร วิธีคลายปมปริศนานี้ก็คือ การมิลงเงินทองทั้งหมดของท่านในการลงทุนเพียงคราเดียว ซึ่งนอกจากการกระจายความเสี่ยงในการลงทุนหลาย “ศิลาแห่งโชค” หรือหลาย “เกมเสี่ยงทาย” แล้ว ท่านอาจกำหนดขนาดของการลงทุนแต่ละคราให้มิมากเกินไป แบบง่าย ๆ เช่น มิเกิน ๑๐% ของเงินลงทุนทั้งหมด หรือท่านอาจคำนวณขนาดของการลงทุนแต่ละคราด้วยสูตรทางคณิตศาสตร์ เช่น สูตร “การขาดทุนสูงสุดที่ท่านรับได้ (Value at Risk)” หรือ สูตร “ขนาดเดิมพันที่เหมาะสม (Kelly Formula)” ๓. ปริศนาแห่ง “อคติ” ในวงการพนัน มักมีอคติหนึ่งที่บังเกิดบ่อยครั้งกับผู้คน คือ “Gambler's Fallacy” หรือ “ความเชื่อผิด ๆ แห่งนักพนัน” ว่าหากเหตุการณ์หนึ่งบังเกิดบ่อยครั้งกว่าปรกติในช่วงเวลาหนึ่ง ๆ เหตุการณ์นั้นจักบังเกิดบ่อยครั้งน้อยลงในอนาคต ทั้ง ๆ ที่เหตุการณ์เหล่านั้นเป็นอิสระจากกันในทางสถิติ ยกตัวอย่างเช่น หากโยนเหรียญมนตราออกหัวไปแล้วสามครา ในคราที่สี่ หลายคนอาจคิดว่าโอกาสออกก้อยมากกว่าหัว แม้ว่าการโยนเหรียญแต่ละคราจะมิได้ส่งผลอันใดต่อกันเลย (จะโยนกี่ครา โอกาสหัวหรือก้อย ก็คือ ๕๐:๕๐ อยู่ยั่งยืน) หรือแม้กระทั่ง “สลากกินแบ่งรัฐบาล” มีหลายคนที่ซื้อเลขซ้ำกัน เพื่อหวังว่าจะถูกในงวดต่อ ๆ ไป ในวงการการลงทุน ก็มีลักษณะที่คล้ายคลึงกัน เช่น หาก “ศิลาแห่งโชค A” ราคาตกต่ำลงมาห้าครา บางคนอาจคิดว่าในคราที่หก ราคาของมันจักต้องเด้งขึ้นมา ซึ่งในความเป็นจริง หาได้เป็นเช่นนั้นเสมอไป จักเห็นได้ว่า แท้จริงแล้ว ไม่ว่าจักเป็น “เกมเสี่ยงทายแห่งโชคชะตา” หรือ “การผจญภัยในตลาดทุน” หากท่านมีความเข้าใจ และนำ “คณิตศาสตร์” เข้ามาเป็นรากฐาน มันก็อาจนำพาตัวท่านเอง ไปสู่จุดที่ได้เปรียบในเกมนั้น ได้เฉกเช่นกัน.. สูตรเวทย์มนตร์ที่ปรากฏในตำนาน: * กำไรคาดหวัง = (เงินที่ได้ x โอกาสชนะ) + (เงินที่เสีย x โอกาสแพ้) คำเตือนจากนักเล่าเรื่องแห่งเฮรันเทล: "พึงระลึกไว้เสมอว่า โชคชะตาเป็นสิ่งที่คาดเดาได้ยาก แม้เวทมนตร์คณิตศาสตร์จักช่วยนำทาง แต่ท้ายที่สุดแล้ว ความสำเร็จยังคงขึ้นอยู่กับการตัดสินใจและสติปัญญาของท่านเอง"

หวังว่าตำนานบทนี้จักเป็นประโยชน์แก่ท่านนะคะ

@ 5188521b:008eb518

We are losing our freedom.

Don't believe me? Data published by the Cato Institute suggests that 74% of Americans are concerned they could lose freedoms.

But what do we really mean by 'freedom'?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘freedom’ as follows: the condition or right of being able or allowed to do, say, think, etc. whatever you want to, without being controlled or limited.

Despite this clear definition, freedom means different things to different people: it might also refer to freedom of movement, private property rights, free markets, and freedom from violence.

Freedom fiction (also known as Libertarian fiction) denotes fictional stories intrinsically linked to these ideas or, more likely, the sometimes vain pursuit of this idea.

If dystopian fiction is overly bleak, perfectly captured by the image of a boot on the reader's neck, libertarian stories should offer just a glimmer of hope.

---

What is freedom fiction?

If dystopia, sci-fi, fantasy, and horror are genres, i.e., styles of fiction that must encompass certain tropes, freedom fiction could more generally be considered a category that explores freedom as a theme, without necessarily being part of a specific genre.

Freedom fiction primarily concerns itself with the overarching topics of individual liberty and sovereignty, conflict with authoritarian or surveillance states, and the restoration or preservation of rights that citizens of the Western world have come to expect: privacy, freedom of speech, the right to private property, and freedom to transact and form contracts.

Though enjoying something of a resurgence in recent decades and especially post Covid, freedom fiction is not new, and famous/infamous novels throughout the centuries could be retroactively categorised as freedom fiction.

Think of The Epic of Gilgamesh (2000BC), Greek tragedies (500BC), Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1852), which helped fuel the anti-slavery movement, or We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, written over 100 years ago.

Today, freedom fiction is an emerging category that includes the revival of the cypherpunk movement, as privacy technologies such as Bitcoin seek to remove the reliance on the banking system, which has become an effective method of control for the establishment.

Why read freedom fiction?

Storytelling is a tradition as old as humanity itself, created to share the joy and wonder of imagined worlds. Fiction can also serve as a warning of what might come, and playing out “what if?” scenarios in our minds can help us in the real world, too.

Any individual interested in escaping the modern debt-slavery rat race we’ve found ourselves forced into can enjoy freedom stories with a greater and deeper understanding of just how real this “fiction” could be in the future.

Spiking interest

Data from Google Trends shows that in the United Kingdom — a nation increasingly concerned with policing speech, surveillance and other dystopic methods — interest in freedom has been spiking in the past five years, centred in England.

Source: Google Trends

Now let’s take a look at the data for the United States:

Despite a lower interest overall, the spike in 2023 mirrors that of the UK. Perhaps this was due to an event featured in the news or even a brand name or TikTok trend.

It is interesting to note that although a great number of Amercians fear losing their freedoms, fewer are searching how to protect them.

One reason for the rise in freedom fiction could be that Libertarian thinkers, praxeologists, and freedom maximalists seek to alert the populace through emotive stories. Few, it seems, are awakened when presented with legacy media propaganda and government messages.

The benefits & outcomes of reading freedom fiction

Once a human mind has acquired a taste for freedom fiction, there are numerous benefits and likely outcomes that will arise as a result:

Benefits:

• Broadened perspective and understanding of historical issues
• Increased empathy and social understanding
• Inspiration, motivation & empowerment
• Critical thinking skills & awareness
• Emotional connection

Once the reader has enjoyed these benefits, it is likely they will put their newfound understanding to action, bringing about outcomes like these.

Outcomes:

• Appreciation of and gratitude for freedom
• Informed civic engagement
• Agency for social change
• Personal growth

It would appear, then, that at some point, freedom fiction will have a transformative impact on the social demographics of the civilised world. As popular Netflix shows like Black Mirror highlight our reliance and overreliance on digital media, and governments continue to censor user-generated content posted socially, we must ask ourselves, when exactly will we wake up to what is happening?

We are more connected, but more controlled, than ever. How can we use the tools that enslave us to liberate us? Perhaps through sharing stories.

Aspects of freedom, genres, and time periods

Freedom fiction is a broad spectrum, encompassing various aspects, genres and time periods.

Aspects — privacy, freedom of speech, wrongful imprisonment, oppression, discrimination, government overreach, surveilance, debanking, censorship, confiscation, forced separation and more.

Genres — horror, sci-fi, fantasy, thriller and even young adult romance stories can contribute to the growing canon of libertarian-themed fiction.

Time periods — slavery in the past, alien invasions in the future, totalitarian governments in the present. Freedom fiction can relate to any time period.

---

15+ Classic Freedom-themed Books

In no particular order, here are 15 of the greatest examples of freedom stories from modern times:

1. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949): A dystopian classic where the Party controls every aspect of people's lives, and Winston Smith rebels against the oppressive regime.

   Reason to read: Offers a chilling and thought-provoking exploration of totalitarianism, mass surveillance, and the importance of individual thought and truth.

2. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985): In a totalitarian regime where women are stripped of their rights, Offred fights for survival and a chance to regain her freedom.

   Reason to read: A haunting story that explores themes of feminism, oppression, and resistance, with a timely warning about the dangers of religious extremism and the fragility of women's rights.

3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932): A satirical look at a future society where people are genetically engineered and conditioned to conform, and a "savage" challenges their way of life.

   Reason to read: Provides an unsettling vision of a future where happiness is manufactured at the cost of individuality, freedom, and genuine human connection.

4. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953): In a world where books are banned, Guy Montag, a fireman, discovers the power of knowledge and fights for intellectual freedom.

   Reason to read: A passionate defense of the importance of books, ideas, and intellectual freedom, and a warning against censorship.

5. The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993): A young boy named Jonas discovers the dark secrets of his seemingly Utopian society, where there is no pain, sadness, or freedom of choice.

   Reason to read: A thought-provoking exploration of utopia, dystopia, and the importance of memory, emotion, and individual choice in a truly human life.

6. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (1962): Randle McMurphy challenges the authority of a mental institution, becoming a symbol of rebellion and the fight for individual freedom.

   Reason to read: A powerful and moving story about the struggle against forced conformity and the importance of individuality, even in the face of oppressive systems.

7. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (2008): This contemporary science fiction novel explores themes of government surveillance, digital rights, and the power of decentralized networks in challenging authority.

   Reason to read: a timely exploration of digital surveillance, government overreach, and the power of youthful activism in defending civil liberties in the modern age.

8. Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987): Set after the American Civil War, this novel explores the psychological and emotional scars of slavery and the struggle for freedom and identity.

   Reason to read: A masterpiece that delves into the legacy of slavery and its enduring impact on identity, memory, and the quest for freedom.

9. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (2005): In Nazi Germany, a young girl named Liesel Meminger finds solace in stolen books and discovers the power of words to resist oppression and find freedom.

   Reason to read: A beautifully written story about the power of words to nourish the soul, resist oppression, and find hope and freedom in the darkest of times.

10. Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945): An allegorical novella about a revolution on a farm that turns into a totalitarian dictatorship, highlighting the dangers of unchecked power, Communism, and the loss of freedom.

    Reason to read: A timeless allegory that exposes the corruption of revolutions, the fragility of freedom, and the importance of resistance against tyranny.

11. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (2007): This novel tells the story of two Afghan women whose lives intersect under the oppressive Taliban regime, and their fight for survival and freedom.

    Reason to read: An eye-opening portrayal of the resilience and strength of women in the face of oppression, and a powerful story about the universal desire for dignity.

12. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016): A unique novel that reimagines the Underground Railroad as a literal railroad, and follows a slave's journey.

    Reason to read: A compelling blend of historical fiction and magical realism that offers a fresh perspective on the history of slavery and the enduring quest for freedom.

13. Anthem by Ayn Rand (1938): A novella set in a collectivist future where the concept of "I" has been eradicated. It follows one man's rediscovery of individualism and his rebellion against the oppressive society.

    Reason to read: a novella that champions radical individualism against the suffocating conformity of collectivist ideology.

14. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1844-46): Edmond Dantès is wrongly imprisoned and seeks revenge and freedom after years of captivity.

    Reason to read: An exciting tale of betrayal, revenge, and ultimate triumph, with a focus on themes of justice, freedom, and the resilience of the human spirit.

15. Snow Crash (1992) and Cryptonomicon (1999) by Neal Stephenson: While not strictly libertarian manifestos, these novels explore themes of individual freedom, the power of information, decentralized systems, and critiques of centralized authority in engaging and complex ways.

    Reason to read: these books are considered modern cypherpunk classics. They are rich in detail and the perfect starting place to learn more about the genre and why it is important for freedom.

## Lesser-known Freedom Books

Here are 15 lesser-known, more modern books that also explore the theme of freedom:

• Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (2017): This novel uses magical realism to depict refugees fleeing a war-torn country and seeking freedom and safety in an uncertain world.
• A Lodging of Wayfaring Men by Paul Rosenberg (2007): a libertarian novel based on real events that explores themes of individual sovereignty and free markets.
• The Probability Broach by L. Neil Smith (1979): An alternate history novel where a slight change in the Declaration of Independence leads to a libertarian society in North America. It's the first in Smith's "North American Confederacy" series.
• The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri (2019): This tells the story of beekeepers forced to flee Syria and their struggle to find freedom and rebuild their lives in a new country.
• Alongside Night by J. Neil Schulman (1979): A dystopian thriller depicting the collapse of the US government and the rise of a libertarian underground.
• Freehold by Michael Z. Williamson (2004): A military science fiction series that portrays a future where individuals have seceded from Earth's controlling government to establish independent, more libertarian colonies.
• No Truce with Kings by Poul Anderson (1963): A novella that won the Hugo Award, depicting a future where scientific progress has led to a world of isolated, self-sufficient individuals, challenging traditional notions of society and government.
• A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam (2021): This Booker Prize-nominated novel explores the aftermath of the Sri Lankan Civil War and the complexities of memory, trauma, and the search for inner freedom.
• Kings of the High Frontier by Victor Koman (1996): A hard science fiction novel exploring themes of entrepreneurship and individual liberty in space.
• This Perfect Day by Ira Levin (1970): A dystopian novel where a seemingly Utopian global society controls every aspect of individual life, raising questions about freedom versus engineered happiness.
• Wasp by Eric Frank Russell (1957): A story containing acts of terrorism against oppressive aliens. A notable example of a single individual disrupting a larger, controlling power.
• The Peace War by Vernor Vinge (1984): A ruthless organization, the Peace Authority, uses impenetrable force fields to end war but suppresses technology and individual liberty, leading a group of rebels to fight for the freedom to advance and determine their own future.
• Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein (1959): Heinlein was a prolific science fiction writer whose works frequently touch upon libertarian themes. Starship Troopers explores the ideas of civic virtue and individual responsibility.
• Live Free or Die by John Ringo (2010) follows Tyler Vernon, a fiercely independent and resourceful entrepreneur who stands up against alien oppressors and Earth's own bureaucratic tendencies to forge a path to true liberty and self-determination for humanity.
• Darkship Thieves by Sarah Hoyt (2010): Winner of the Prometheus Award for Best Libertarian SF Novel. This book follows Athena Hera Sinistra, a genetically engineered woman who escapes a tyrannical Earth to a freer society in space.

---

Freedom Publishers

In addition to the many works of libertarian fiction, a number of publishers are beginning to focus on stories which promote freedom.

• Liberty Island: This publisher focuses on science fiction and fantasy with libertarian and individualist themes.
• Fox News Books: While a mainstream publisher, it has been known to publish fiction with libertarian themes or by authors who are considered libertarian.
• Defiance Press & Publishing: This independent publisher openly states its commitment to publishing conservative and libertarian authors across fiction and non-fiction genres.
• Konsensus Network: A publisher that specifically promotes libertarian themes and bitcoin authors.
• All Seasons Press: Founded by former executives from Simon & Schuster and Hachette, this independent press aims to be a home for conservative voices.
• Baen Books: This is a well-known publisher, particularly in science fiction and fantasy, that often features authors and stories exploring themes of individual liberty, self-reliance, and limited government.
• Morlock Publishing: This small press specializes in science fiction with themes often including aspects of anarcho-capitalism and libertarian rebellion.
• Heresy Press (now an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing): While broader in its scope, Heresy Press aimed to publish "uncensored, outspoken, and free-spirited books" which can include libertarian viewpoints in fiction.
• Libertarian Futurist Society (LFS) (indirectly): While not a traditional publisher, the LFS sponsors the Prometheus Award and promotes libertarian science fiction. Their website and related platforms can be resources for finding authors and works, which are then published by various houses.

Recent Trends in Libertarian Fiction:

Konsensus Network’s new imprint, 21 Futures, is building a movement centred on freedom fiction, a movement in which emerging and established writers can contribute their storytelling media to anthologies and blogs, as well as publish their own individual works.

To date, two short story anthologies are available from 21 Futures:

Tales from the Timechain: the world’s first Bitcoin-fiction anthology.

21 writers examine how the hardest sound money ever created can restore freedom and liberty to mankind.

Financial Fallout: in this recently-released anthology, 21 writers weave financial dystopia from across a broader spectrum of freedom fiction, sewing seeds of eventual hope.

In addition to 21 Futures, a host of self-published and even best-selling fiction on the theme of bitcoin is now available. The Rapid Rise of Bitcoin Fiction documents the history and current trends in this genre.

## What happens next?

As governments tighten their grip on our data and our freedoms erode, we expect that freedom fiction will become a wider phenomenon. It is our hope and belief that Konsensus Network and 21 Futures will help drive growth in the genre and better understanding of how to protect individual freedom through our multimedia publications.

Follow our socials to keep up to date on future releases.

---

This blog was originally published on the 21 Futures blog by Alex Boast.

Alex is a web3 writer, ghost writer and ghost story writer. He’s a novelist and poet from England who loves to work with other writers as a coach, mentor and friend. You can find him on LinkedIn.

@ 37c10448:f8256861

Title H1

Hello !

@ 4fa5d1c4:fd6c6e41

Bibel-Selfies

Prompts

Eva, Schlange, Apfel und Adam

A selfie of a woman resembling eve in the time of old testament, blurred body, holding an apple, kneeling in front adam. he has a shocked expression with his mouth open and wide eyes, evoking a sense of both fear and surprise. The scene appears surreal, with a huge snake behind her. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, adding to the dramatic and humorous effect. The setting is reminiscent of a scene with adam and eve, possibly at a place like garden eden. The style of the photo blends surrealism with humor, similar to the style of Yasir Khan Chaudha --v 6.0

Tochter des Pharao mit Mose

A selfie of the biblical figure moabite woman with her baby in front of an oasis. She is wearing traditional and has black hair. The background shows water from the desert oasis and grasses around it. In the Background a wicker basket on the water. The photo was taken in the style of a selfie shot with GoPro camera

Simon Petrus

A selfie of a man resembling Simon Petrus, wearing a white robe, surrounded by waves and thunderstorm. He has a shocked expression with his mouth open and wide eyes, evoking a sense of both humor and surprise. The scene appears surreal, with many waves behind him. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, adding to the dramatic and humorous effect. The setting is reminiscent of a scene with jesus at the dead sea, possibly at a place like the sea. The style of the photo blends surrealism with humor, similar to the style of Yasir Khan Chaudhary --v 6.0

Zachäus auf dem Baum

A selfie of a man resembling a roman in the time of jesus, wearing a glamorous robe, surrounded by the crown of a tree. He has a shocked expression with his mouth open and wide eyes, evoking a sense of both humor and surprise. The scene appears surreal, with many leaves behind him. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, adding to the dramatic and humorous effect. The setting is reminiscent of a scene with jesus walking by, possibly at a place like the jerusalem. The style of the photo blends surrealism with humor, similar to the style of Yasir Khan Chaudhary --v 6.0

Maria am Ostermorgen

A selfie of a woman resembling maria in the time of jesus, wearing a robe, kneeling in front of stone grave. she has a shocked expression with her mouth open and wide eyes, evoking a sense of both fear and surprise. The scene appears surreal, with the open glowing grave behind her. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, adding to the dramatic and humorous effect. The setting is reminiscent of a scene with jesus resurrection, possibly at a place like the jerusalem. The style of the photo blends surrealism with humor, similar to the style of Yasir Khan Chaudhary --v 6.0

Der verlorene Sohn bei den Schweinen

A young ancient arabic man with short hair in the time of jesus, brown eyes, and a dirty face, covered in mud from working on his pig farm, takes an amateur selfie at dusk. He is surrounded by pig stables, with a barn visible in the background and pigs seen near the front. The photo captures a raw, authentic moment, as he gazes directly into the camera with an expression of excitement or wonder. The image has a realistic style, akin to Unsplash photography, and is meant to be posted on a primitive-themed social network. The resolution of the photo is high, style of selfie with gopro --v 6.0

Vater und Sohn vereint

A selfie of an Arab father in simple garments in the time of jesus, embracing and hugging a young man. The father's face, visible in the foreground, radiates joy and relief. Only the back of the son's head is visible, as he faces away from the camera, returning the embrace in tattered clothing. In the background, a large ancient house and other family members can be seen watching from a distance, blurred. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens using a GoPro, enhancing the dramatic and overwhelming effect of the scene --v 6.0

Bartimäus

A selfie of a man resembling blind bartimaeus in the time of jesus, black and brown and white bandages on his head over his eyes and face, wearing a robe, kneeling in front of a market place. he has a shocked expression with his mouth open and wide eyes still covered with black and brown and white bandages on his head, evoking a sense of both fear and surprise. The scene appears surreal, with many sand behind him. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, adding to the dramatic and humorous effect. The setting is reminiscent of a scene with jesus healing the blind, possibly at a place like the jerusalem. The style of the photo blends surrealism with humor, similar to the style of Yasir Khan Chaudha --v 6.0

Daniel in der Löwengrube

A selfie of a man resembling Jesus, wearing a beige hoodie, surrounded by lions and cheetahs. He has a shocked expression with his mouth open and wide eyes, evoking a sense of both humor and surprise. The scene appears surreal, with many lions behind him. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, adding to the dramatic and humorous effect. The setting is reminiscent of a lion's den, possibly at a place like the Grand Tabahar. The style of the photo blends surrealism with humor, similar to the style of Yasir Khan Chaudhary

David und Goliath

selfie of a the boy and shepherd david holding his slingshot resembling a fight with the giant goliath in the time of old testament, wearing a glamorous sligshot focusing on his giant opponent. David has a shocked expression with his mouth open and wide eyes, evoking a sense of both humor and surprise. The scene appears surreal, with a desert surrounding him. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, adding to the dramatic and humorous effect. The setting is reminiscent of the scene of David fighting with the giant goliath with his slingshot, possibly at a place like the jerusalem. The style of the photo blends surrealism with humor, similar to the style of Yasir Khan Chaudhary --v 6.0

Simson im Philistertempel

A selfie of a man resembling simson in the time of old testament, wearing a glamorous beard and long hair, surrounded by thousands of ancient fighters. He has a shocked expression with his mouth open and wide eyes, evoking a sense of both humor and surprise. The scene appears surreal, with a temple surrounding him. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, adding to the dramatic and humorous effect. The setting is reminiscent of a scene with jesus walking by, possibly at a place like the jerusalem. The style of the photo blends surrealism with humor, similar to the style of Yasir Khan Chaudhary --v 6.0

Jona und der Wal

A selfie of a man resembling israeli jona in the time of old testament,`wearing a glamorous beard and long hair, inside the body of a whale. He has a shocked expression with his mouth open and wide eyes, evoking a sense of both humor and surprise. The scene appears surreal, with the ocean surrounding him. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, adding to the dramatic and humorous effect. The setting is reminiscent of a scene in the bible. The style of the photo blends surrealism with humor, similar to the style of Yasir Khan Chaudhary

Jakob und Isaak

A selfie of a young man resembling an ancient Arabic in clothes made of skins of goats and furs of the goats, looking overwhelmed and distressed as he betrays his father, who blesses him. The scene shows a dawn sky with hints of the sunrise, evoking a surreal and dramatic atmosphere. The scene is set in ancient Jerusalem, with stone buildings. in the background an old man with a gesture of blessing, rising his hands to the sky, The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, blending surrealism with humor. The style is reminiscent of a GoPro selfie, capturing the intense moment with a sense of both fear and surprise

Petrus und der Hahn

A selfie of a man resembling ancient young arabic man saint in traditional biblical attire, being eaten by a whale,. he has a shocked expression with his mouth pressed and wide eyes, evoking a sense of both fear and surprise. The scene appears surreal, with one rooster crowing out loud behind the man. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, adding to the dramatic and humorous effect. The setting is reminiscent of a scene with peter and the rooster, possibly at a place in jerusalem . The style of the photo blends surrealism with humor, go pro selfie, morning dawn near sunrise setting

Josef im Brunnen

A selfie of an ancient israelian man with a magical dreamcoat clothing in a deep well, looking at the camera from above, captured in the style of a go pro selfie stick

Elia und die Raben

A close-up selfie of a bearded man (Elijah) in biblical clothing, smiling gratefully. He is standing near a stream in a secluded, rocky area. Several black ravens are perched on his shoulders and arms, holding pieces of bread and meat in their beaks. The scene has a warm, golden light, symbolizing God's provision. Photorealistic style, high detail.

Absalom im Baum

A selfie of a man resembling of a young man (Absalom) with long hair knotted arount the branches of a large oak tree.. He has a shocked expression with his mouth open and wide eyes, evoking a sense of both humor and surprise. The scene appears surreal, with all of his hairs knotted around the tree. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, adding to the dramatic and humorous effect. The setting is reminiscent of a scene of a robin hood movie in the forest . The style of the photo blends surrealism with humor

Ruth und Boas im Weizenfeld

A selfie of a young woman resembling Ruth, with a radiant smile and sun-kissed skin. She's standing in a golden wheat field at sunset, her arms filled with freshly gathered sheaves of wheat. Her hair is partially covered with a simple headscarf, with loose strands blowing in the wind. She has a look of joy and gratitude in her eyes. The scene appears idyllic, with wheat stalks seeming to embrace her. In the background, a distinguished older man (Boaz) can be seen watching from a distance, his expression a mix of curiosity and admiration. The photo is taken with a wide-angle lens, capturing the vastness of the field, the warmth of the setting sun, and Boaz in the distance. The setting is reminiscent of a biblical harvest scene. The style of the photo blends realism with a touch of romantic nostalgia.

"Bibel-Selfies" von Jörg Lohrer Lizenz: CC0 1.0 .

`

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers!

Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!

A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.

So stay a while and listen.

🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨

🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/952743

@ 1c19eb1a:e22fb0bc

After my first major review of Primal on Android, we're going to go a very different direction for this next review. Primal is your standard "Twitter clone" type of kind 1 note client, now branching into long-form. They also have a team of developers working on making it one of the best clients to fill that use-case. By contrast, this review will not be focusing on any client at all. Not even an "other stuff" client.

Instead, we will be reviewing a very useful tool created and maintained by nostr:npub1w4uswmv6lu9yel005l3qgheysmr7tk9uvwluddznju3nuxalevvs2d0jr5 called #Amber. For those unfamiliar with Amber, it is an #Android application dedicated to managing your signing keys, and allowing you to log into various #Nostr applications without having to paste in your private key, better known as your #nsec. It is not recommended to paste your nsec into various applications because they each represent another means by which it could be compromised, and anyone who has your nsec can post as you. On Nostr, your #npub is your identity, and your signature using your private key is considered absolute proof that any given note, reaction, follow update, or profile change was authorized by the rightful owner of that identity.

It happens less often these days, but early on, when the only way to try out a new client was by inputting your nsec, users had their nsec compromised from time to time, or they would suspect that their key may have been compromised. When this occurs, there is no way to recover your account, or set a new private key, deprecating the previous one. The only thing you can do is start over from scratch, letting everyone know that your key has been compromised and to follow you on your new npub.

If you use Amber to log into other Nostr apps, you significantly reduce the likelihood that your private key will be compromised, because only one application has access to it, and all other applications reach out to Amber to sign any events. This isn't quite as secure as storing your private key on a separate device that isn't connected to the internet whatsoever, like many of us have grown accustomed to with securing our #Bitcoin, but then again, an online persona isn't nearly as important to secure for most of us as our entire life savings.

Amber is the first application of its kind for managing your Nostr keys on a mobile device. nostr:npub1w4uswmv6lu9yel005l3qgheysmr7tk9uvwluddznju3nuxalevvs2d0jr5 didn't merely develop the application, but literally created the specification for accomplishing external signing on Android which can be found in NIP-55. Unfortunately, Amber is only available for Android. A signer application for iOS is in the works from nostr:npub1yaul8k059377u9lsu67de7y637w4jtgeuwcmh5n7788l6xnlnrgs3tvjmf, but is not ready for use at this time. There is also a new mobile signer app for Android and iOS called Nowser, but I have not yet had a chance to try this app out. From a cursory look at the Android version, it is indeed in the very early stages of development and cannot be compared with Amber.

This review of Amber is current as of version 3.2.5.

Overall Impression

Score: 4.7 / 5 (Updated 4/21/2025)

I cannot speak highly enough about Amber as a tool that every Nostr user on Android should start using if they are not already. When the day comes that we have more options for well-developed signer apps on mobile, my opinion may very well change, but until then Amber is what we have available to us. Even so, it is an incredibly well thought-out and reliable tool for securing your nsec.

Despite being the only well-established Android signer available for Android, Amber can be compared with other external signing methods available on other platforms. Even with more competition in this arena, though, Amber still holds up incredibly well. If you are signing into web applications on a desktop, I still would recommend using a browser extension like #Alby or #Nos2x, as the experience is usually faster, more seamless, and far more web apps support this signing method (NIP-07) than currently support the two methods employed by Amber. Nevertheless that gap is definitely narrowing.

A running list I created of applications that support login and signing with Amber can be found here: Nostr Clients with External Signer Support

I have run into relatively few bugs in my extensive use of Amber for all of my mobile signing needs. Occasionally the application crashes when trying to send it a signing request from a couple of applications, but I would not be surprised if this is no fault of Amber at all, and rather the fault of those specific apps, since it works flawlessly with the vast majority of apps that support either NIP-55 or NIP-46 login.

I also believe that mobile is the ideal platform to use for this type of application. First, because most people use Nostr clients on their phone more than on a desktop. There are, of course, exceptions to that, but in general we spend more time on our phones when interacting online. New users are also more likely to be introduced to Nostr by a friend having them download a Nostr client on their phone than on a PC, and that can be a prime opportunity to introduce the new user to protecting their private key. Finally, I agree with the following assessment from nostr:npub1jlrs53pkdfjnts29kveljul2sm0actt6n8dxrrzqcersttvcuv3qdjynqn.

nostr:nevent1qqsw0r6gzn05xg67h5q2xkplwsuzedjxw9lf7ntrxjl8ajm350fcyugprfmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68yurvv438xtnrdaksyg9hyaxj3clfswlhyrd5kjsj5v04clhjvgeq6pwztmysfzdvn93gev7awu9v

The one downside to Amber is that it will be quite foreign for new users. That is partially unavoidable with Nostr, since folks are not accustomed to public/private key cryptography in general, let alone using a private key to log into websites or social media apps. However, the initial signup process is a bit cumbersome if Amber is being used as the means of initially generating a key pair. I think some of this could be foregone at start-up in favor of streamlining onboarding, and then encourage the user to back-up their private key at a later time.

Features

Amber has some features that may surprise you, outside of just storing your private key and signing requests from your favorite Nostr clients. It is a full key management application, supporting multiple accounts, various backup methods, and even the ability to authorize other users to access a Nostr profile you control.

Android Signing

This is the signing method where Amber really shines in both speed and ease of use. Any Android application that supports this standard, and even some progressive web-apps that can be installed to your Android's home-screen, can very quickly and seamlessly connect with Amber to authorize anything that you need signed with your nsec. All you have to do is select "Login with Amber" in clients like #Amethyst or #0xChat and the app will reach out to Amber for all signing requests from there on out. If you had previously signed into the app with your nsec, you will first need to log out, then choose the option to use Amber when you log back in.

This is a massive deal, because everything you do on Nostr requires a signature from your private key. Log in? Needs a signature. Post a "GM" note? Needs a signature. Follow someone who zapped your note? Needs a signature. Zap them back? You guessed it; needs a signature. When you paste your private key into an application, it will automatically sign a lot of these actions without you ever being asked for approval, but you will quickly realize just how many things the client is doing on your behalf when Amber is asking you to approve them each time.

Now, this can also get quite annoying after a while. I recommend using the setting that allows Amber to automatically sign for basic functions, which will cut down on some of the authorization spam. Once you have been asked to authorize the same type of action a few times, you can also toggle the option to automatically authorize that action in the future. Don't worry, though, you have full control to require Amber to ask you for permission again if you want to be alerted each time, and this toggle is specific to each application, so it's not a blanket approval for all Nostr clients you connect with.

This method of signing is just as fast as signing via browser extension on web clients, which users may be more accustomed to. Everything is happening locally on the device, so it can be very snappy and secure.

Nostr Connect/Bunker Signing

This next method of signing has a bit of a delay, because it is using a Nostr relay to send encrypted information back and forth between the app the user is interacting with and Amber to obtain signatures remotely. It isn't a significant delay most of the time, but it is just enough to be noticeable.

Also, unlike the previous signing method that would automatically switch to Amber as the active application when a signing request is sent, this method only sends you a notification that you must be watching for. This can lead to situations where you are wondering why something isn't working in a client you signed into remotely, because it is waiting on you to authorize the action and you didn't notice the notification from Amber. As you use the application, you get used to the need to check for such authorization requests from time to time, or when something isn't working as expected.

By default, Amber will use relay.nsec.app to communicate with whichever Nostr app you are connecting to. You can set a different relay for this purpose, if you like, though not just any relay will support the event kinds that Amber uses for remote signing. You can even run your own relay just for your own signing purposes. In fact, the creator of Amber has a relay application you can run on your phone, called Citrine, that can be used for signing with any web app you are using locally on your phone. This is definitely more of an advanced option, but it is there for you if you want it. For most users, sticking with relay.nsec.app will be just fine, especially since the contents of the events sent back and forth for signing are all encrypted.

Something many users may not realize is that this remote signing feature allows for issuing signing permissions to team members. For instance, if anyone ever joined me in writing reviews, I could issue them a connection string from Amber, and limit their permissions to just posting long-form draft events. Anything else they tried to do would require my explicit approval each time. Moreover, I could revoke those permissions if I ever felt they were being abused, without the need to start over with a whole new npub. Of course, this requires that your phone is online whenever a team member is trying to sign using the connection string you issued, and it requires you pay attention to your notifications so you can approve or reject requests you have not set to auto-approve. However, this is probably only useful for small teams, and larger businesses will want to find a more robust solution for managing access to their npub, such as Keycast from nostr:npub1zuuajd7u3sx8xu92yav9jwxpr839cs0kc3q6t56vd5u9q033xmhsk6c2uc.

The method for establishing a connection between Amber and a Nostr app for remote signing can vary for each app. Most, at minimum, will support obtaining a connection string from Amber that starts with "bunker://" and pasting it in at the time of login. Then you just need to approve the connection request from Amber and the client will log you in and send any subsequent signing requests to Amber using the same connection string.

Some clients will also offer the option to scan a QR code to connect the client to Amber. This is quite convenient, but just remember that this also means the client is setting which relay will be used for communication between the two. Clients with this option will also have a connection string you can copy and paste into Amber to achieve the same purpose. For instance, you may need this option if you are trying to connect to an app on your phone and therefore can't scan the QR code using Amber on the same phone.

Multiple Accounts

Amber does not lock you into using it with only a single set of keys. You can add all of your Nostr "accounts" to Amber and use it for signing events for each independently. Of course, Nostr doesn't actually have "accounts" in the traditional sense. Your identity is simply your key-pair, and Amber stores and accesses each private key as needed.

When first signing in using native Android signing as described above, Amber will default to whichever account was most recently selected, but you can switch to the account that is needed before approving the request. After initial login, Amber will automatically detect the account that the signing request is for.

Key Backup & Restore

Amber allows multiple ways to back up your private key. As most users would expect, you can get your standard nsec and copy/paste it to a password manager, but you can also obtain your private key as a list of mnemonic seed words, an encrypted version of your key called an ncryptsec, or even a QR code of your nsec or ncryptsec.

Additionally, in order to gain access to this information, Amber requires you to enter your device's PIN or use biometric authentication. This isn't cold-storage level protection for your private key by any means, especially since your phone is an internet connected device and does not store your key within a secure element, but it is about as secure as you can ask for while having your key accessible for signing Nostr events.

Tor Support

While Amber does not have Tor support within the app itself, it does support connecting to Tor through Orbot. This would be used with remote signing so that Amber would not connect directly over clearnet to the relay used for communication with the Nostr app requesting the signature. Instead, Amber would connect through Tor, so the relay would not see your IP address. This means you can utilize the remote signing option without compromising your anonymity.

Additional Security

Amber allows the user the option to require either biometric or PIN authentication before approving signing requests. This can provide that extra bit of assurance that no one will be able to sign events using your private key if they happen to gain access to your phone. The PIN you set in Amber is also independent from the PIN to unlock your device, allowing for separation of access.

Can My Grandma Use It?

Score: 4.6 / 5 (Updated 4/21/2025)

At the end of the day, Amber is a tool for those who have some concept of the importance of protecting their private key by not pasting it into every Nostr client that comes along. This concept in itself is not terribly approachable to an average person. They are used to just plugging their password into every service they use, and even worse, they usually have the same password for everything so they can more readily remember it. The idea that they should never enter their "Nostr password" into any Nostr application would never occur to them unless someone first explained how cryptography works related to public/private key pairs.

That said, I think there can be some improvements made to how users are introduced to these concepts, and that a signer application like Amber might be ideal for the job. Considering Amber as a new user's first touch-point with Nostr, I think it holds up well, but could be somewhat streamlined.

Upon opening the app, the user is prompted to either use their existing private key or "Create a new Nostr account." This is straightforward enough. "Account" is not a technically correct term with Nostr, but it is a term that new users would be familiar with and understand the basic concept.

The next screen announces that the account is ready, and presents the user with their public key, explaining that it is "a sort of username" that will allow others to find them on Nostr. While it is good to explain this to the user, it is unnecessary information at this point. This screen also prompts the user to set a nickname and set a password to encrypt their private key. Since the backup options also allow the user to set this password, I think this step could be pushed to a later time. This screen would better serve the new user if it simply prompted them to set a nickname and short bio that could be saved to a few default relays.

Of course, Amber is currently prompting for a password to be set up-front because the next screen requires the new user to download a "backup kit" in order to continue. While I do believe it is a good idea to encourage the creation of a backup, it is not crucial to do so immediately upon creation of a new npub that has nothing at stake if the private key is lost. This is something the UI could remind the user to do at a later time, reducing the friction of profile creation, and expediting getting them into the action.

Outside of these minor onboarding friction points, I think Amber does a great job of explaining to the user the purpose of each of its features, all within the app and without any need to reference external documentation. As long as the user understands the basic concept that their private key is being stored by Amber in order to sign requests from other Nostr apps, so they don't have to be given the private key, Amber is very good about explaining the rest without getting too far into the technical weeds.

The most glaring usability issue with Amber is that it isn't available in the Play Store. Average users expect to be able to find applications they can trust in their mobile device's default app store. There is a valid argument to be made that they are incorrect in this assumption, but that doesn't change the fact that this is the assumption most people make. They believe that applications in the Play Store are "safe" and that anything they can't install through the Play Store is suspect. The prompts that the Android operating system requires the user to approve when installing "unknown apps" certainly doesn't help with this impression.

Now, I absolutely love the Zapstore from nostr:npub1wf4pufsucer5va8g9p0rj5dnhvfeh6d8w0g6eayaep5dhps6rsgs43dgh9, but it doesn't do much to alleviate this issue. Users will still need to be convinced that it is safe to install the Zapstore from the GitHub repo, and then install Amber from there. Furthermore, this adds yet another step to the onboarding process.

Instead of:

• Install Amber
• Set up your keys
• Install the client you want to use
• Log in with Amber

The process becomes:

• Go to the Zapstore GitHub and download the latest version from the releases page.
• Install the APK you downloaded, allowing any prompt to install unknown apps.
• Open Zapstore and install Amber, allowing any prompt to install unknown apps again.
• Open Amber and set up your keys.
• Install the client you want to use
• Log in with Amber

An application as important as Amber for protecting users' private keys should be as readily available to the new user as possible. New users are the ones most prone to making mistakes that could compromise their private keys. Amber should be available to them in the Play Store.

UPDATE: As of version 3.2.8 released on 4/21/2025, the onboarding flow for Amber has been greatly improved! Now, when selecting to set up a new "account" the user is informed on the very next screen, "Your Nostr account is ready!" and given their public key/npub. The only field the user must fill in is their "nickname"/display name and hit "Continue."

From there the user is asked if they want Amber to automatically approve basic actions, or manually approve each app, and then they are shown a new Applications screen, with a prompt to create a backup of their account. This prompt persists until the user has done so.

As you can see, the user is also encouraged to find applications that can be used with Amber with links to nostrapps.com and the Zapstore.

Thanks to these updates, Amber is now the smoothest and most user-friendly onboarding experience I have seen for Nostr to date. Sure, it doesn't have anything for setting up a profile picture or lightning address, but that is better done in a client like Amethyst or YakiHonne, anyway. Just tap "create," type in a handle to call yourself, and you're done!

How do UI Look?

Score: 4.5 / 5

Amber's UI can be described as clean but utilitarian. But then, Amber is a tool, so this is somewhat expected. It is not an app you will be spending a lot of time in, so the UI just needs to be serviceable. I would say it accomplishes this and then some. UI elements are generally easy to understand what they do, and page headings fill in the gaps where that is not the case.

I am not the biggest fan of the color-scheme, particularly in light-mode, but it is not bad in dark-mode at all, and Amber follows whatever theme you have set for your device in that respect. Additionally, the color choice does make sense given the application's name.

It must also be taken into consideration that Amber is almost entirely the product of a single developer's work. He has done a great job producing an app that is not only useful, but pleasant to interact with. The same cannot be said for most utility apps I have previously used, with interfaces that clearly made good design the lowest priority. While Amber's UI may not be the most beautiful Nostr app I have seen, design was clearly not an afterthought, either, and it is appreciated.

Relay Management

Score: 4.9 / 5

Even though Amber is not a Nostr client, where users can browse notes from their favorite npubs, it still relies heavily on relays for some of its features. Primarily, it uses relays for communicating with other Nostr apps for remote signing requests. However, it also uses relays to fetch profile data, so that each private key you add to Amber will automatically load your chosen username and profile picture.

In the relay settings, users can choose which relays are being used to fetch profile data, and which relays will be used by default when creating new remote signing connection strings.

The user can also see which relays are currently connected to Amber and even look at the information that has been passed back and forth on each of those active relays. This information about actively connected relays is not only available within the application, but also in the notification that Amber has to keep in your device's notification tray in order to continue to operate in the background while you are using other apps.

Optionality is the name of the game when it comes to how Amber handles relay selection. The user can just stick with the default signing relay, use their own relay as the default, or even use a different relay for each Nostr application that they connect to for remote signing. Amber gives the user an incredible amount of flexibility in this regard.

In addition to all of this, because not all relays accept the event types needed for remote signing, when you add a relay address to Amber, it automatically tests that relay to see if it will work. This alone can be a massive time saver, so users aren't trying to use relays that don't support remote signing and wondering why they can't log into noStrudel with the connection string they got from Amber.

The only way I could see relay management being improved would be some means of giving the user relay recommendations, in case they want to use a relay other than relay.nsec.app, but they aren't sure which other relays will accept remote signing events. That said, most users who want to use a different relay for signing remote events will likely be using their own, in which case recommendations aren't needed.

Current Users' Questions

The AskNostr hashtag can be a good indication of the pain points that other users are currently having with any Nostr application. Here are some of the most common questions submitted about Amber in the last two months.

nostr:nevent1qqsfrdr68fafgcvl8dgnhm9hxpsjxuks78afxhu8yewhtyf3d7mkg9gpzemhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxgq3qkgh77xxt7hhtt4u528hecnx69rhagla8jj3tclgyf9wvkxa6dc0sxp0e6m

This is a good example of Amber working correctly, but the app the user is trying to log into not working. In my experience with #Olas in particular, it sometimes allows remote signer login, and sometimes doesn't. Amber will receive the signing request and I will approve it, but Olas remains on the login screen.

If Amber is receiving the signing requests, and you are approving them, the fault is likely with the application you are trying to log into.

That's it. That's all the repeated questions I could find. Oh, there were a few one-off questions where relay.nsec.app wouldn't connect, or where the user's out-of-date web browser was the issue. Outside of that, though, there were no common questions about how to use Amber, and that is a testament to Amber's ease of use all on its own.

Wrap Up

If you are on Android and you are not already using Amber to protect your nsec, please do yourself a favor and get it installed. It's not at all complicated to set up, and it will make trying out all the latest Nostr clients a safe and pleasant experience.

If you are a client developer and you have not added support for NIP-55 or NIP-46, do your users the courtesy of respecting the sanctity of their private keys. Even developers who have no intention of compromising their users' keys can inadvertently do so. Make that eventuality impossible by adding support for NIP-55 and NIP-46 signing.

Finally, I apologize for the extended time it took me to get this review finished. The time I have available is scarce, Nostr is distracting, and nostr:npub1w4uswmv6lu9yel005l3qgheysmr7tk9uvwluddznju3nuxalevvs2d0jr5 kept improving Amber even as I was putting it through its paces over the last two months. Keep shipping, my friend! You have made one of the most useful tools we have seen for Nostr to date!

Now... What should I review next?

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

ก่อนที่จะมูฟออนจากเทคนิคการสร้าง เรามาดูเรื่องสำคัญครับ

วันที่ไม่มีวัว แต่มีเวย์โปรตีน – เบื้องหลังเทคโนโลยีที่เปลี่ยนถังหมักให้กลายเป็นเต้านมวัว เคยมีคำถามไหมว่า “เวย์โปรตีน” ที่กินตอนออกกำลังกาย หรือโยเกิร์ตถ้วยโปรดที่ซื้อมาจากร้านใกล้บ้าน มันยังมาจากนมวัวอยู่ไหม? ถ้าคำตอบคือ “ไม่” แล้วมันมาจากไหน?

ยินดีต้อนรับสู่โลกของ Perfect Day บริษัทที่บอกว่า "เราสร้างเวย์โปรตีนได้ โดยไม่ต้องใช้วัวเลยแม้แต่นิดเดียว” ฟังดูเหมือนมายากล แต่นี่คือวิทยาศาสตร์ขั้นสูงที่ผูกสูตรไว้กับ DNA, จุลินทรีย์ และการหมักอย่างแยบยล

ขั้นตอนที่ 1: หารหัสโปรตีนจากแม่วัว เริ่มต้นจากคำถามง่าย ๆ ว่า “โปรตีนเวย์ที่อยู่ในน้ำนมวัว คืออะไร?” คำตอบคือ เบต้า-แลคโตโกลบูลิน (Beta-lactoglobulin) ซึ่งเป็นโปรตีนหลักในเวย์ประมาณ 50-55% โดยในธรรมชาติ วัวจะสร้างโปรตีนนี้จาก รหัสพันธุกรรมใน DNA ของมัน Perfect Day จึงไปค้นหา ลำดับเบส (DNA sequence) ของโปรตีนนี้จากฐานข้อมูลวิทยาศาสตร์ชื่อ UniProt (Universal Protein Resource) ซึ่งเก็บรหัสโปรตีนของสิ่งมีชีวิตแทบทุกชนิดไว้ครบถ้วน ได้รหัสมาแล้ว ก็เตรียมเข้าสู่ภารกิจ “หลอกจุลินทรีย์ให้สร้างโปรตีนแทนวัว”

ขั้นตอนที่ 2: สร้างแผ่นดีเอ็นเอสังเคราะห์ รหัส DNA ที่ได้จาก UniProt จะถูกนำไปสร้างเป็น DNA สังเคราะห์ โดยนักชีววิทยาจะออกแบบให้เหมาะสมกับการทำงานในเซลล์ของจุลินทรีย์ ไม่ใช่เซลล์วัว จะเรียกว่านี่คือ “การดัดแปลงบทละครชีวิตของวัว แล้วส่งให้จุลินทรีย์เล่นแทน” ก็ไม่ผิด DNA ที่ออกแบบนี้ มักจะมาพร้อมกับเครื่องมือบางอย่าง เช่น ตัวกระตุ้นการทำงานของยีน (promoter) หรือ ตัวตัดต่อยีน ที่จะทำให้จุลินทรีย์ยอมรับและใช้มันได้อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ

ขั้นตอนที่ 3: ปลอมตัวแทรกเข้าไปในจุลินทรีย์ จุลินทรีย์ที่ Perfect Day ใช้คือกลุ่มที่เรียกว่า Microflora ซึ่งอาจเป็นยีสต์, เชื้อรา, หรือแบคทีเรียชนิดที่เลี้ยงง่าย แต่มันจะไม่ยอมรับ DNA แปลกปลอมง่าย ๆ ดังนั้นต้องมี “เทคนิคหลอกล่อ” นิดหน่อย เขาจะทำให้ DNA ของจุลินทรีย์ เสียหายตรงจุดหนึ่ง แล้วแอบแนบ DNA ปลอม (ที่มีรหัสโปรตีนของวัว) เข้าไปซ่อมแซมจุดนั้นพอดีเป๊ะ แบบ “จิ๊กซอว์พอดีช่อง” แล้วจุลินทรีย์ก็จะเผลอรับ DNA แปลกปลอมนี้เข้าร่าง เมื่อติดตั้งสำเร็จ มันจะเริ่มแปลรหัสและ “ผลิตโปรตีนเวย์” ออกมาเหมือนกับแม่วัวตัวจริงไม่มีผิด

ขั้นตอนที่ 4: เลี้ยงจุลินทรีย์ในถังหมัก ตอนนี้จุลินทรีย์กลายเป็น “แม่วัวในร่างเซลล์เดียว” แล้ว Perfect Day ก็แค่เลี้ยงมันใน ถังหมักชีวภาพ (fermentor) ที่ควบคุมอุณหภูมิ ค่าความเป็นกรดด่าง อากาศ และใส่น้ำตาลลงไปเป็นอาหาร จุลินทรีย์จะกินน้ำตาลแล้วเปลี่ยนเป็น เวย์โปรตีน ปล่อยออกมานอกเซลล์ จากนั้นก็เก็บเอาน้ำที่มีโปรตีนนี้ ไปผ่านกระบวนการกรอง แยก แปรรูป และทำให้แห้ง เป็นผงเวย์โปรตีน พร้อมใช้ในอาหารหรือเครื่องดื่มต่าง ๆ

ขั้นตอนที่ 5: ตรวจสอบความเหมือนจริง ก่อนนำเวย์โปรตีนที่ได้ไปใช้งาน บริษัทต้อง ตรวจสอบระดับโมเลกุล ว่าโปรตีนที่ได้เหมือนกับของวัวจริง ๆ ไหม? สิ่งที่ต้องดูคือ โครงสร้างโปรตีน: ใช้เทคนิค mass spectrometry ตรวจความแม่นยำระดับกรดอะมิโน พฤติกรรมทางชีวเคมี เช่น ความสามารถในการจับกับน้ำ การเกิดฟอง หรือการละลาย ความปลอดภัย ตรวจหาสารปนเปื้อน สารก่อภูมิแพ้ หรือสารที่ไม่ได้ตั้งใจให้มี Perfect Day เคลมว่าทั้งหมดนี้ปลอดภัย และได้รับการรับรองจาก FDA ว่าเป็น GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe)

แล้วเราควรรู้สึกยังไง? นี่คือ “นมที่ไม่มีวัว” แต่มีเวย์โปรตีนครบสูตร ทำให้โยเกิร์ต ไอศกรีม และแม้กระทั่งกาแฟลาเต้ที่ไม่มีนมวัว แต่ยังมีฟองนมหนานุ่ม กลายเป็นจริงได้แบบไม่ต้องพึ่งวัวเลยแม้แต่นิดเดียว แต่คำถามที่ลึกกว่านั้นคือ... เรายังได้กินอาหารจากธรรมชาติอยู่หรือเปล่า? หรือกำลังอยู่ในยุคที่ “ชีวิต” ถูกตัดออกจากอาหาร โดยสิ้นเชิง? เทคโนโลยีนี้อาจช่วยโลกในมุมของ ESG แต่สำหรับบางคน มันคือ ทางแยกของความจริงกับของจำลอง คำว่า “Perfect” จึงอาจขึ้นอยู่กับว่า… สมบูรณ์แบบในสายตาใคร?

แล้วคำถามที่ล่องลอยอยู่เสมอคือ เมื่อทางเลือกกลายเป็นทางหลัก แล้วเราจะเหลือทางไหนอีกบ้าง หรือจะเป็น...ทางตัน? #pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก

@ 401014b3:59d5476b

About Me

I come to Nostr with extensive experience in the digital landscape. As a blockchain native since 2017, I've witnessed the evolution of decentralized technologies firsthand. Most of my professional career has been spent working within big tech companies, giving me a unique perspective on both centralized and decentralized systems.

My social media journey began on Twitter in 2007, where I've maintained a presence for over 17 years. I've also explored other decentralized social platforms including BlueSky, Farcaster, and Lens Protocol. As a Bitcoin maximalist, I was particularly intrigued by Nostr's compatibility with the Lightning Network, which initially drew me to the platform.

The Onboarding Challenge

The Nostr onboarding experience presents a significant hurdle for newcomers. Despite my technical background in blockchain technologies, I found the initial setup process more complicated than expected. Understanding public/private key cryptography just to join a social network creates a steeper learning curve than necessary.

BlueSky and Farcaster have demonstrated that it's possible to maintain decentralized principles while providing a more streamlined onboarding experience. Their approaches show that user-friendly design and decentralization aren't mutually exclusive concepts.

Relay Management: Room for Improvement

The concept of relays represents one of Nostr's most distinctive features, though it can be confusing for newcomers. While many clients come pre-configured with default relays, users eventually encounter situations where content or connections seem inconsistent.

When someone I've interacted with doesn't appear in my feed or doesn't respond, I'm often left wondering if we're simply on different relays. This uncertainty creates friction that doesn't exist on other platforms where connectivity is handled behind the scenes.

The relay system introduces a layer of complexity that, while important to Nostr's architecture, could benefit from better abstraction in the user experience. When using BlueSky or Farcaster, I don't need to think about the underlying infrastructure, something Nostr could learn from while maintaining its decentralized principles.

The Zap Economy: Growing Pains

The Lightning-powered zap system shows tremendous potential, but I've observed some concerning economic patterns. Longer-term Nostr users have expressed frustration about continuously sending zaps while seeing limited growth in the overall ecosystem.

Interestingly, there appears to be a connection between this liquidity issue and community growth dynamics. Some established users who voice concerns about bearing the financial burden of the zapping economy are simultaneously less welcoming to newer accounts, rarely following, engaging with, or zapping newcomers.

This creates a challenging environment for new users, who face a cold reception and have little incentive to load their Lightning wallets or participate in the zap economy. Why bring fresh liquidity to a platform where established users rarely engage with your content? This dynamic has limited the expansion of the ecosystem, with the same sats often circulating among established users rather than growing with new participants.

Client Diversity: Strength and Challenge

Nostr's multiple client options offer users choice, which is valuable. However, the implementation of NIPs (Nostr Implementation Possibilities) varies across clients, creating inconsistent experiences. Features that work seamlessly in one client might be implemented differently in another.

This extends to fundamental aspects like search functionality, thread navigation, and notification systems, all of which can differ significantly between clients. For users accustomed to consistent experiences, this fragmentation creates a learning curve with each new client they try.

Lightning Integration: Varying Experiences

The Lightning Network integration varies in quality and user experience across Nostr clients. While the functionality is generally present, the implementation quality, feature set, and ease of use differ depending on which client you choose.

This inconsistency means users may need to experiment with several clients to find one that provides the Lightning experience they're looking for, rather than having a consistent experience across the ecosystem.

Finding Balance

Nostr appears to be navigating the challenge of balancing technical innovation with user experience. While its cryptographic foundation and decentralized architecture are impressive technical achievements, these same strengths sometimes come at the cost of accessibility.

Despite my technical background and interest in decentralized technologies, I find myself using BlueSky and Farcaster more frequently for daily social interactions, while checking Nostr less often. For Nostr to achieve its potential for broader adoption, addressing these user experience considerations while maintaining its core principles will be essential.

The platform has tremendous potential with improvements to user experience, community dynamics, and economic sustainability, Nostr could evolve from a fascinating technical experiment into a truly compelling alternative to mainstream social media.

@ df478568:2a951e67

Testing

Untype.app

@ 1f79058c:eb86e1cb

I think we should agree on an HTML element for pointing to the Nostr representation of a document/URL on the Web. We could use the existing one for link relations for example:

html <link rel="alternate" type="application/nostr+json" href="nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4..." title="This article on Nostr" />

This would be useful in multiple ways:

1. Nostr clients, when fetching meta/preview information for a URL that is linked in a note, can detect that there's a Nostr representation of the content, and then render it in Nostr-native ways (whatever that may be depending on the client)
2. User agents, usually a browser or browser extension, when opening a URL on the Web, can offer opening the alternative representation of a page in a Nostr client. And/or they could offer to follow the author's pubkey on Nostr. And/or they could offer to zap the content.
3. When publishing a new article, authors can share their preferred Web URL everywhere, without having to consider if the reader knows about or uses Nostr at all. However, if a Nostr user finds the Web version of an article outside of Nostr, they can now easily jump to the Nostr version of it.
4. Existing Web publications can retroactively create Nostr versions of their content and easily link the Nostr articles on all of their existing article pages without having to add prominent Nostr links everywhere.

There are probably more use cases, like Nostr search engines and whatnot. If you can think of something interesting, please tell me.

Proof of concept

In order to show one way in which this could be used, I have created a small Web Extension called Nostr Links, which will discover alternate Nostr links on the pages you visit.

If it finds one or more links, it will show a purple Nostr icon in the address bar, which you can click to open the list of links. It's similar to e.g. the Feed Preview extension, and also to what the Tor Browser does when it discovers an Onion-Location for the page you're looking at:

The links in this popup menu will be web+nostr: links, because browsers currently do not allow web apps or extensions to handle unprefixed nostr: links. (I hope someone is working on getting those on par with ipfs: etc.)

Following such a link will either open your default Nostr Web app, if you have already configured one, or it will ask you which Web app to open the link with.

Caveat emptor: At the time of writing, my personal default Web app, noStrudel, needs a new release for the links to find the content.

Try it now

Have a look at the source code and/or download the extension (currently only for Firefox).

I have added alternate Nostr links to the Web pages of profiles and long-form content on the Kosmos relay's domain. It's probably the only place on the Web, which will trigger the extension right now.

You can look at this very post to find an alternate link for example.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Such a transformation positions Nostr to compete with established social networking platforms in terms of reach while simultaneously ensuring the preservation of user sovereignty and the integrity of cryptographic trust mechanisms.

The Emergence of Encrypted Relay-to-Relay Federation

In the context of Nostr protocol scalability challenges pertaining to censorship-resistant networking paradigms, Nostr stands as a paradigm-shifting entity, underpinned by robust public-key cryptography and minimal operational assumptions. This feature set has rendered Nostr an emblematic instrument for overcoming systemic censorship, fostering permissionless content dissemination, and upholding user autonomy within digital environments. However, as the demographic footprint of Nostr's user base grows exponentially, coupled with an expanding range of content modalities, the structural integrity of individual relays faces increasing pressure.

Challenges of Isolation and Limited Scalability in Decentralized Networks

The current architecture of Nostr relays is primarily constituted of simple TCP or WebSocket servers that facilitate the publication and reception of events. While aesthetically simple, this design introduces significant performance bottlenecks and discoverability issues. Relays targeting specific regional or topical niches often rely heavily on client-side interactions or third-party directories for information exchange. This operational framework presents inefficiencies when scaled globally, especially in scenarios requiring high throughput and rapid dissemination of information. Furthermore, it does not adequately account for redundancy and availability, especially in low-bandwidth environments or regions facing strict censorship.

Navigating Impediments of Isolation and Constrained Scalability

Current Nostr relay infrastructures mainly involve basic TCP and WebSocket configurations for event publication and reception. While simple, these configurations contribute to performance bottlenecks and a significant discoverability deficit. Relays that serve niche markets often operate under constraints, relying on client-side interactions or third-party directories. These inefficiencies become particularly problematic at a global scale, where high throughput and rapid information distribution are necessary. The absence of mechanisms to enhance redundancy and availability in environments with limited connectivity or under censorship further exacerbates these issues.

Proposal for Encrypted Relay Federation

Encrypted relay federation in decentralized networking can be achieved through a novel Nostr Improvement Proposal (NIP), which introduces a sophisticated gossip-style mesh topology. In this system, relays subscribe to content tags, message types, or public keys from peer nodes, optimizing data flow and relevance.

Central to this architecture is a mutual key handshake protocol using Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) for symmetric encryption over relay keys. This ensures data integrity and confidentiality during transmission. The use of encrypted event bundles, compression, and routing based on relay reputation metrics and content demand analytics enhances throughput and optimizes network resources.

To counter potential abuse and spam, strategies like rate limiting, financially incentivized peering, and token gating are proposed, serving as control mechanisms for network interactions. Additionally, the relay federation model could emulate the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), allowing for dynamic content advertisement and routing updates across the federated mesh, enhancing network resilience.

Advantages of Relay Federation in Data Distribution Architecture

Relay federation introduces a distributed data load management system where relays selectively store pertinent events. This enhances data retrieval efficiency, minimizes congestion, and fosters a censorship-resistant information flow. By decentralizing data storage, relays contribute to a global cache network, ensuring no single relay holds comprehensive access to all network data. This feature helps preserve the integrity of information flow, making it resistant to censorship.

An additional advantage is offline communication capabilities. Even without traditional internet access, events can still be communicated through alternative channels like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, or LoRa. This ensures local and community-based interactions remain uninterrupted during network downtime.

Furthermore, relay federations may introduce monetization strategies where specialized relays offer access to rare or high-quality data streams, promoting competition and interoperability while providing users with diverse data options.

Some Notable Markers To Nostr Becoming the Internet Layer for Censorship Resistance

Stop for a moment in your day and try to understand what Nostr can do for your communications by observing these markers:

1. Protocol Idea (NIP-01 by fiatjaf) │ ▼
2. npub/nsec Keypair Standard │ ▼
3. First Relays Go Online │ ▼
4. Identity & Auth (NIP-05, NIP-07) │ ▼
5. Clients Launch (Damus, Amethyst, Iris, etc.) │ ▼
6. Lightning Zaps + NWC (NIP-57) │ ▼
7. Relay Moderation & Reputation NIPs │ ▼
8. Protocol Bridging (ActivityPub, Matrix, Mastodon) │ ▼
9. Ecash Integration (Cashu, Walletless Zaps) │ ▼
10. Encrypted Relay Federation (Experimental) │ ▼
11. Relay Mesh Networks (WireGuard + libp2p) │ ▼
12. IoT Integration (Meshtastic + ESP32) │ ▼
13. Fully Decentralized, Censorship-Resistant Social Layer

The implementation of encrypted federation represents a pivotal technological advancement, establishing a robust framework that challenges the prevailing architecture of fragmented social networking ecosystems and monopolistic centralized cloud services. This innovative approach posits that Nostr could:

• Facilitate a comprehensive, globally accessible decentralized index of information, driven fundamentally by user interactions and a novel microtransaction system (zaps), enabling efficient content valorization and information dissemination.
• Empower the concept of nomadic digital identities, allowing them to seamlessly traverse various relays, devoid of reliance on centralized identity verification systems, promoting user autonomy and privacy.
• Become the quintessential backend infrastructure for decentralized applications, knowledge graphs, and expansive datasets conducive to DVMs.
• Achieve seamless interoperability with established protocols, such as ActivityPub, Matrix, IPFS, and innovative eCash systems that offer incentive mechanisms, fostering an integrated and collaborative ecosystem.

In alignment with decentralization, encrypted relay-to-relay federation marks a significant evolution for the Nostr protocol, transitioning from isolated personal broadcasting stations to an interoperable, adaptive, trustless mesh network of communication nodes.

By implementing this sophisticated architecture, Nostr is positioned to scale efficiently, addressing global needs while preserving free speech, privacy, and individual autonomy in a world marked by surveillance and compartmentalized digital environments.

Nostr's Countenance Structure: Noteworthy Events

``` Nostr Protocol Concept by fiatjaf:

• First Relays and npub/nsec key pairs appear
• Damus, Amethyst, and other clients emerge
• Launch of Zaps and Lightning Tip Integration
• Mainstream interest post Twitter censorship events
• Ecosystem tools: NWC, NIP-07, NIP-05 adoption
• Nostr devs propose relay scoring and moderation NIPs
• Bridging begins (ActivityPub, Matrix, Mastodon)
• Cashu eCash integration with Nostr zaps (walletless tips)
• Relay-to-relay encrypted federation proposed
• Hackathons exploring libp2p, LNbits, and eCash-backed identities
• Scalable P2P Mesh using WireGuard + Nostr + Gossip
• Web3 & IoT integration with ESP32 + Meshtastic + relays
• A censorship-resistant, decentralized social internet ```

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

This foundational philosophy positioned her as the principal architect of the climactic finale of the Reconquista—a protracted campaign that sought to reclaim territories under Muslim dominion. Her decisive participation in military operations against the Emirate of Granada not only consummated centuries of Christian reclamation endeavors but also heralded the advent of a transformative epoch in both Spanish and European identity, intertwining religious zeal with nationalistic aspirations and setting the stage for the emergence of a unified Spanish state that would exert significant influence on European dynamics for centuries to come.

Image Above Map Of Th Iberias

During the era of governance overseen by Muhammad XII, historically identified as Boabdil, the Kingdom of Granada was characterized by a pronounced trajectory of decline, beset by significant internal dissent and acute dynastic rivalry, factors that fundamentally undermined its structural integrity. The political landscape of the emirate was marked by fragmentation, most notably illustrated by the contentious relationship between Boabdil and his uncle, the militarily adept El Zagal, whose formidable martial capabilities further exacerbated the emirate's geopolitical vulnerabilities, thereby impairing its capacity to effectively mobilize resistance against the encroaching coalition of Christian forces. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge the strategic advantages conferred by Granada’s formidable mountainous terrain, coupled with the robust fortifications of its urban centers. This geographical and structural fortitude, augmented by the fervent determination and resilience of the local populace, collectively contributed to Granada's status as a critical and tenacious stronghold of Islamic governance in the broader Iberian Peninsula during this tumultuous epoch.

The military campaign initiated was precipitated by the audacious territorial annexation of Zahara by the Emirate in the annum 1481—a pivotal juncture that served as a catalytic impetus for the martial engagement orchestrated by the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon.

Image Above Monarchs Of Castilles

What subsequently unfolded was an arduous protracted conflict, extending over a decade, characterized by a series of decisive military confrontations—most notably the Battle of Alhama, the skirmishes at Loja and Lucena, the strategic recapture of Zahara, and engagements in Ronda, Málaga, Baza, and Almería. Each of these encounters elucidates the intricate dynamics of military triumph entwined with the perils of adversity. Isabel's role transcended mere symbolic representation; she emerged as an astute logistical architect, meticulously structuring supply chains, provisioning her armies with necessary resources, and advocating for military advancements, including the tactical incorporation of Lombard artillery into the operational theater. Her dual presence—both on the battlefield and within the strategic command—interwove deep-seated piety with formidable power, unifying administrative efficiency with unyielding ambition.

In the face of profound personal adversities, exemplified by the heart-wrenching stillbirth of her progeny amidst the tumultuous electoral campaign, Isabel exhibited a remarkable steadfastness in her quest for triumph. Her strategic leadership catalyzed a transformative evolution in the constructs of monarchical power, ingeniously intertwining the notion of divine right—a historically entrenched justification for sovereign authority—with pragmatic statecraft underpinned by the imperatives of efficacious governance and stringent military discipline. The opposition posed by El Zagal, characterized by his indefatigable efforts and tenacious resistance, elongated the duration of the campaign; however, the indomitable spirit and cohesive resolve of the Catholic Monarchs emerged as an insuperable force, compelling the eventual culmination of their aspirations into a definitive victory.

The capitulation of the Emirate of Granada in the month of January in the year 1492 represents a pivotal moment in the historical continuum of the Iberian Peninsula, transcending the mere conclusion of the protracted series of military engagements known as the Reconquista. This momentous event is emblematic of the intricate process of state-building that led to the establishment of a cohesive Spanish nation-state fundamentally predicated on the precepts of Christian hegemony. Furthermore, it delineates the cusp of an imperial epoch characterized by expansionist ambitions fueled by religious zealotry. The ramifications of this surrender profoundly altered the sociocultural and political framework of the region, precipitating the coerced conversion and expulsion of significant Jewish and Muslim populations—a demographic upheaval that would serve to reinforce the ideological paradigms that underpinned the subsequent institution of the Spanish Inquisition, a systematic apparatus of religious persecution aimed at maintaining ideological conformity and unity under the Catholic Monarchs.

Image Above Surrender At Granada

In a broader historical context, the capitulation of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada transpired concurrently with the inaugural expedition undertaken by the navigator Christopher Columbus, both events being facilitated under the auspices of Queen Isabel I of Castile. This significant temporal nexus serves to underscore the confluence of the termination of Islamic hegemony in the Iberian Peninsula with the commencement of European maritime exploration on a grand scale. Such a juxtaposition of religiously motivated conquest and the zealous pursuit of transoceanic exploration precipitated a paradigm shift in the trajectory of global history. It catalyzed the ascendance of the Spanish Empire, thereby marking the nascent stages of European colonial endeavors throughout the Americas.

Image Above Columbus At The Spanish Court

This epochal transformation not only redefined territorial dominion but also initiated profound socio-economic and cultural repercussions across continents, forever altering the intricate tapestry of human civilization.

Consequently, the cessation of hostilities in Granada should not merely be interpreted as the conclusion of a protracted medieval conflict; rather, it represents a critical juncture that fundamentally reoriented the socio-political landscape of the Old World while concurrently heralding the advent of modernity. The pivotal contributions of Queen Isabel I in this transformative epoch position her as an extraordinarily significant historical figure—an autocrat whose strategic foresight, resilience, and zeal indelibly influenced the trajectory of nations and entire continents across the globe.

@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d

Se este movimento de desglobalização continuar, poderá provocar uma cisão no mundo geopolítico, criar dois grandes blocos económicos, uma nova guerra fria.

Se isso se concretizar, quantos anos vão ser necessários para o S&P500 superar máximos históricos em termos reais, em poder de compra?

Em valores nominais vai ser rápido, o governo dos EUA vai imprimir tanto dinheiro, rapidamente vai superar máximos, mas em termos reais, vai demorar muitos anos.

Até agora, todo o mundo estava a investir nos EUA, mas se os países do bloco oriental, sobretudo a China, deixarem de investir em ações, obrigações e moeda dos EUA, irá provocar uma enorme redução de liquidez e na procura/demanda, não vai ser fácil ultrapassar isso.

Nos US Treasury, o afastamento da China começou em 2014(1° guerra da Ucrânia), mas o movimento acelerou em 2022(2° guerra da Ucrânia).

Os EUA, ao congelar as reservas da Rússia, ao utilizar as reservas como uma arma de guerra, “assustaram” a China e outros países. As sanções à Rússia e como esta fez para contornar as sanções foi um case study para a China.

Como o objetivo da China é recuperar Taiwan, sabe que sofrerá as mesmas represálias que hoje a Rússia sofre, por isso a China tem que se afastar da economia dos EUA.

A China está a trocar US Treasury por outros ativos e por outras geografias, o principal beneficiado foi o ouro, um ativo soberano, que não tem problemas de contraparte.

Este movimento da China foi bem visível no preço do ouro no último ano, uma valorização superior a 42%.

Mas não é só a China que está a apostar no ouro, são diversos, mas sobretudo composta por países do bloco oriental.

Enquanto, Taiwan for a fábrica do mundo nos semicondutores, estarão protegidos pelo guarda-chuva dos EUA. Mas os EUA, estão a construir fábricas próprias, quando forem auto-suficientes, vão descartar o “guarda-chuva”, Taiwan não terá qualquer hipótese sobre o poderio da China.

A China pensa sempre a longo prazo, estão apenas a aguardar, isto poderá estar para muito em breve.

Se isto se confirmar, o S&P500 poderá demorar décadas para recuperar desta crise, em termos de poder de compra.