@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

https://youtu.be/-ne8adkjY6A

Orlando gets Bane

Memphis gets KCP, Cole Anthony, and a bunch of picks

This move makes a lot of sense. Orlando needed someone like Bane and Memphis needed to break up their core.

https://stacker.news/items/1007156

@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b

Оригинални научни рад

Аутор: Срђан М. РАДУЛОВИЋ - Универзитет у Приштини са привременим седиштем у Косовској Митровици (Србија), Правни факултет

---

Сажетак

Тенденција трансформације појединачних друштвених заједница у јединствено, унификовано друштво, које унутар себе не познаје никакве границе (или барем не инсистира на њима), можемо, уз неопходну дозу симплификације, сматрати појмовним одређењем глобализације, која, будући да је доживљавамо као тенденцију, по природи ствари има и своје темпорално одређење. Мада одређење временских координата ове појаве умногоме зависи од угла из којег је посматрамо, начелно је могуће постићи консензус око тога да овај процес није континуиран, већ да се одвијао у неколико засебних фаза.

Нама је блиско становиште да је ова тенденција имала три фазе. Но, верујемо да ће се и присталице нешто другачије периодизације усагласити са тим да је у периоду од 31. октобра 2008. године, када је објављен тзв. бели папир (white paper) под називом Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System, до момента проглашења пандемије SARSCoV-2 вируса од стране Светске здравствене организације започела сасвим нова, по потенцијалним дометима најефикаснија и најсвеобухватнија фаза глобализације.

У овом раду, због усмерености и обима рада, представљамо део резултата раније спроведеног теоријско-емпиријског истраживања о социолошко-правним моментима који су погодовали почетку нове фазе глобализације. Други део прикупљених резултата, усмерен на потенцијални обим и ефекте промене коју доноси нова фаза, биће представљен у неком од наредних радова. Сазнања су у оба дела истраживања прикупљена употребом аналитичко-синтетичких метода, уз нарочит ослонац на предности апстракције. У раду су, такође, коришћене и различите технике нормативног метода, као и специфичне технике интерпретације правних норми.

Кључне речи: глобализација; биткоин; криптовалуте; криптоимовина; новчане облигације; SARS-CoV-2 пандемија.

Уместо увода

Уколико идеју о глобализацији генерализујемо и интерпретирамо је као трансформацију самосталних друштвених заједница са релативно јасно одређеним државним, културним, економским и/или другим границама, у унификовано друштво које не познаје ниједну од поменутих граница, или барем није њима спутано (Радуловић, 2017), можемо доћи до неколико закључака.

Први у низу закључака био би да је овај процес иманентан људском друштву. Иако се израз не појављује у научној литератури до средине XX века (Попић, 2018; Џамић, 2014; Chumakov, 2010), мишљења смо да тенденција интензивирања људских односа кроз смањење просторних, временских, културних, а нарочито економских баријера одувек постоји. Доиста делује као да друштво тежи свеобухватности и да је глобализацију немогуће избећи (2) (Domišljanović, 2000), а да је несклад између научног конституисања појма и тренутка када се глобализација појавила чак и природан. (3) (Џамић, 2014)

Облик и, нарочито, интензитет глобализације разликују се кроз епохе. Начини постизања ефеката глобализације, такође, сукцесивно су се смењивали (Антић, 2013). Можемо уочити и периоде стагнације, чак и радикалних, темпорално или географски одређених фаза у којима се промовише изолација у односу на „нетрадиционалне” вредности. То, међутим, не значи да тенденција пораста степена међузависности процеса, појава и односа не постоји (Џамић, 2014). Напротив. Управо виши степен радикализма у „традиционалистичким” (4) одговорима подстиче активности усмерене ка стварању више форме друштвене заједнице (Марковић и Булатовић, 2014). Уосталом, push and pull ефекти (Giddens, 1990) глобализације нису нимало необични. Они природно произлазе из осећаја апатије, изгубљености, угрожености коју кроскултурни начин организовања доноси (5) (Chumakov, 2010).

Даље, глобализација спаја прошлост и садашњост, представља будућност, мада сама не подлеже никаквим временским ограничењима (Попић, 2018; Chumakov, 2010). Но, глобализација није униформна појава (Радуловић, 2017). Она, уколико је доживљавамо као процес, има своје фазе. Њих је могуће разликовати и определити периодизацију.

Критеријуми периодизације врло су хетерогени и није једноставно определити се за један, тим пре јер историјска димензија глобализације није сасвим јасна (Антић, 2003). Уз напомену да би закључци принципијелно били исти и да смо одабрали другачију хронологију, бирамо модификовану трофазну периодизацију глобализације (Печујлић, 2002; Радуловић, 2017). Прва фаза започиње успоном најстаријих цивилизација и траје до XVI века. Други талас глобализације траје до пада Берлинског зида (6). Најзад, трећи талас турбоглобализације започиње падом Берлинског зида и траје до данас без прекида [sic!].

---

1. Штавише, степен достигнуте повезаности и свеобухватности могуће је и изразити релативно прецизно кроз глобалност као меру дешавања на глобалу (Cifrić, 2009).
2. Природно је да свест о одвијању процеса, следствено и научно интересовање, у делу људске историје нису постојали, то јест да су се јавили у некој од фаза већ започетог процеса. Овакав закључак произлази из петофазне периодизације промишљања о проблемима и трендовима на нивоу човечанства као органске целине, а која почиње тек од средине XVIII века (Chumakov, 2010).
3. Ваља бити нарочито обазрив уколико између појмова глобализације и модернизације, односно традиционализма и конзервативизма, постављамо знак једнакости. Социолошка теорија нуди врло деликатно упутство за употребу ових термина, нарочито онда када их употребљавамо као вредносне судове (Giddens, 1990; Шуваковић, 2013).
4. Глобалистичке пројекције своје постојање, па и смисао уопште, потврђују тек кроз однос са изолационистичким тенденцијама. Однос глобалистичких тежњи друштва и регресивни одговори на те тежње само истичу контроверзну дуалну природу глобализације као процеса (Џамић, 2014). Утолико и синтагма „уједињено-разједињени свет” под којом је, како се сматра, Радомир Лукић проучавао глобализацију (Печујлић, 2002; Попић и Шуваковић, 2014; Џамић, 2014) има више смисла.
5. Творац трофазне периодизације од које полазимо, период од XVI века до пада Берлинског зида не види као континуиран сегмент, већ унутар њега разликује две засебне фазе (Печујлић, 2002). Ми на њима нећемо инсистирати, будући да (не)прихватање ове поделе није релевантно за касније извођење закључака.

---

Корени четвртог таласа глобализације

Настанак и развој протоглобалних цивилизација, њихово ширење, те јављање тежње за унификацијом друштва нераскидиво су повезани са техничким открићима (Антић, 2003). Не само први већ сви таласи глобализације (а сваки наредни интензивнији је од претходног) узроковани су примарно модернизацијом у технолошком смислу. Увек када се појави технологија која има капацитет да обезбеди ефикасније умањење просторне и/или временске дистанце, за последицу имамо комплексне промене у друштву које, уз дозу генерализације, проучавамо као (нове) таласе глобализације. Изузетак није ни четврти талас на чије постојање желимо да укажемо.

Концепт новца и његова еволуција, такође, нераскидиво су везани за технолошки напредак, иако је он, будући да није спутан правним нити културним ограничењима, неупоредиво бржи (Calcaterra et al., 2020). Природно, кроз разраду идеја о дигитализацији традиционалних форми новца које су се појавиле већ у раним осамдесетим (Cavalhiero & Cavalhiero, 2022), у монетарним порецима започет је постепени прелазак са банкнотног на систем електронског плаћања (Димитријевић, 2018). Прелазак је био потпуно логична, чак и очекивана фаза у процесу еволуције новца усмерене ка његовој апстракцији. Безбројне предности апстрахованог инструмента – ефикасност, ефективност и погодност коришћења само су неке од њих (Ruslina, 2019) – учиниле су да се за мање од три деценије од појаве електронског (7), затим и виртуелног новца на глобално интегрисаном финансијском тржишту (Димитријевић, 2018), економски токови глобализују најпре у смислу да промет велике количине новца не трпи значајнија ограничења и да се одвија за релативно кратко време.

У таквом окружењу отвара се широк простор на међународном нивоу који теоретски може да попуни само наднационални, потенцијално недржавни новчани систем (Nahorniak et al., 2016). У том смислу, криптовалуте, базиране на блокчејн технологији, представљају занимљив новитет. Оне су створиле суштинске изазове за правне поретке и довеле у питање генералну улогу новца и различитих валута (Ronaghi, 2023). Такође, подстичу иновације и стварају нове прилике у свету који је створен у првим годинама интернета (Calcaterra et al., 2020; Cavalheiro & Cavalheiro, 2022).

Уз то, оне представљају облик дигиталног новца, но, нису исто што и електронски новац (Nahorniak et al., 2016). Оне су, заправо, нови правац у развоју дигиталног новца због тога што постојећу новчану масу комплементарно и квалитативно уздижу. Стога, криптовалуте нам се чине као најозбиљнији кандидат за задовољење потреба које на међународном тржишту новца постоје, а у мору пројеката издваја се феномен Биткоина (8).

Биткоин примарно не представља валуту, мада може преузети облик и функције новца (9), већ систем плаћања. Суштински, платформа поставља и спроводи правила усмерена на заштиту права својине (Abramowitz, 2016), која се, помало поједностављено, своди на својину на приватним кључевима (Raskin, 2015). Од момента када је постао оперативан, функционише као аутономан систем у потпуности заснован на транспарентним математичким и информатичким принципима. Прецизније, софтвер функционише искључиво према упутствима садржаним у самом коду, али она не долазе од централног ауторитета, сем иницијално, чак не ни од самог творца, већ од демократски организоване заједнице равноправних учесника у мрежи потпуно отвореног типа [нагласио аутор] (10). Као такав, практично посматрано, у потпуности је имун на постојећу међународну, а нарочито домаћу правну регулативу (која ће управо из тог разлога остати ван фокуса овог рада), јер његова поставка и није нормативна већ консенсуална.

Иако се данас стабилни коини погрешно или барем преурањено означавају као „Хајеков новац” (Syropyatov, 2021), биткоин, што се јасно види из његовог концепцијског манифеста, представља први успешан покушај оживотворења деценијама присутне идеје Ф. А. Хајека (1976) о демонополизацији државног утицаја на креирање монетарне политике кроз постепено увођење конкуренције „државном” новцу у виду новца креираног од стране приватних ентитета (Ruslina, 2019; Syropyatov, 2021), и то у форми „спољашњег новца” према прихваћеној дихотомији (Garrat & Wallace, 2018).

Биткоин мрежа је у потпуности транспарентна. Сет криптографских кључева, односно комбинација јавне адресе и приватног кључа (Raskin, 2015), омогућава да систем буде потпуно транспарентан, пре свега, у погледу начина рада, затим расподеле средстава и њиховог кретања (11), али истовремено и да буде имун на интервенције споља због апсолутне, криптографски гарантоване, анонимности учесника у мрежи. То, свакако, компромитује економски суверенитет државе, који је додатно компромитован и њеном немогућношћу да утиче на пуштање у оптицај и масе криптовалутних јединица (Raskin, 2015), затим њеном фактичком немогућношћу да их забрани или опорезује, као и немогућношћу да директно утиче на њихову курсну вредност или куповну моћ. Но, чињеница да овај систем не зависи од компарације и размене националних финансијских инструмената на интернационалном тржишту чини га суштински децентрализованим, а потпуна отвореност мреже интернационализованим, затим и глобализованим (Blaazer, 2020).

Дакле, када смо говорили о вези узрочно-последичног карактера између технолошких иновација и новог таласа глобализације, имали смо у виду примарно Биткоин. Суштински смо, заправо, имали у виду синтезу технолошких иновација први пут обједињених у оквиру функционалне целине од стране недржавног ауторитета која нема само локални већ која има и међународни домашај, а која је у време настанка идеје о новцу издатом од стране приватних ентитета била недоступна, што је саму идеју, по признању творца идеје, чинило утопистичком (Syropyatov, 2021).

---

1. Електронски новац је облик дигиталног новца који, по правилу, представља електронску манифестацију већ постојећег новца у оптицају (Nahorniak et al., 2016; Ström, 2020). Појавио се најпре у Јапану средином осамдесетих година као припејд картица за плаћање неких врста „масовних услуга”, а замах је добио на западу где је коришћен као замена за кеш трансакције мале вредности (Димитријевић, 2018).
2. Будући да је њихова правилна дистинкција од кључне важности, за потребе овог рада систем плаћања означаваћемо као Биткоин, дакле великим почетним словом „Б”, а виртуелне јединице унутар система малим почетним словом „б” (биткоин).
3. Биткоин је најпре препознат као новац од стране специјализованих органа САД који се баве финансијским криминалитетом (Mirjanich, 2014), а тај став потврђен је у чувеном случају Silk Road (Raskin, 2015; Zebec, 2018) и широј јавности мање познатом, али правнополитички врло значајном случају SEC vs Shavers (Raskin, 2015).
4. Кроз овакву поставку, творац и иницијални издавач решио је два кључна проблема – нежељене додатне продукције новца и његово кривотворења (Garrat & Wallace, 2018).
5. Биткоин користи блокчејн технологију и hash функцију како би створио трајни запис свих трансакција које су се у оквиру мреже реализовале (Cavalheiro & Cavalheiro, 2022; Ruslina, 2019). У том контексту интересантан је податак да се чак и биткоини који су заплењени у случају Silk Road, то јест њихово кретање кроз заплену и каснију аукцију, могу пратити у потпуности кроз записе у блокчејну (адреса новчаника који припада FBI: lFfmbHfnpaZjKFvyilokTjJJusN455paPH), те да су оба поступка морала да буду потврђена кроз процес верификације специфичан за биткоинов блокчејн протокол (Raskin, 2015).

---

Проблем одређења временских координата четвртог таласа

Уколико уопште прихватимо идеју о новом таласу, чврсто стојећи на том становишту, можемо рећи да је блокчејн технологија темељ модерних глобалистичких активности, тим пре ако имамо у виду ситуационо и територијално неограничене могућности њене примене. Штавише, иако има оних који су у том смислу резервисани (Horvatić i Tafra, 2022), сматрамо да је овај вид технологије, по потенцијалним дометима и брзини усвајања, импресивнији од интернета. Компарације криптовалутног тржишта и интернета с почетка деведесетих година то потврђују (Syropyatov, 2021).

Почетак овог таласа глобализације, међутим, не можемо стриктно везати за моменат настанка блокчејн технологије а да тиме успешно разрешимо све недоумице које евентуално могу настати. Разлога је неколико, а два су, сматрамо, нарочито битна.

Најпре, блокчејн технологија није нова технологија per se. Блокчејн је први успешан спој технолошких идеја које су постојале и биле коришћене значајно пре формирања првих „низова података груписаних у блокове” (12).

Друго, први случајеви имплементације блокчејн технологије, иако успешни, прошли су незапажено ван информатичке заједнице. Блокчејн остаје потпуно непознат вид технологије широј јавности све до њене уградње у основе система плаћања (13) познатог под називом Биткоин (Horvatić i Tarfa, 2022). Тек од тренутка када је Биткоин мрежа постала оперативна, иако њена дистрибутивност симболизује универзалност (Ronaghi, 2023), блокчејн технологија суштински постаје глобални, доцније и мејнстрим феномен. Следи моменат настанка блокчејн технологије, иако кључне у техничком и суштинском смислу, због иницијално скромних домета, дакле, пре првих примера функционалне имплементације, не би га исправно било узети за почетак четвртог таласа глобализације.

Иако је творац система пажљиво одабрао тренутак како би истакао поенту у свом манифесту револуционарне реформе монетарног система (Sławiński, 2019), више је разлога због којих не можемо везати почетак четвртог таласа глобализације стриктно ни за крај 2008. године, када је објављен тзв. бели папир (14) (Raskin, 2015) нити за почетак 2009. године, када је мрежа постала оперативна.

Први разлог је тај што је кибернетизација и глобализација новца, следствено капиталистичког облика привређивања, суштински започела још 1971. године (Ström, 2020). Даље, Биткоин, ма колико импресивна идеја била, посматрано из перспективе нашег рада, суштински није ништа друго до тек први успешан пројекат имплементације блокчејн технологије на начин који промовише децентрализовану глобализацију. Биткоин је први приказ потенцијала технологије која у монетарној сфери омогућава поуздано креирање и трансфер дигиталних добара (Ronaghi, 2023), мада и то на начин који због читавог низа објективних околности компромитује његово усвајање као мејнстрим економског феномена (Syropyatov, 2021). Дакле, стварни домети блокчејн технологије биће спознати тек кроз пројекте који су се појавили значајно касније или који ће се тек појавити (15).

Штавише, потпуно смо сагласни са тим да биткоин не само да није једини, већ да није ни најнапреднији пројекат те врсте (Teomete Yalabik & Yalabik, 2019). Примера ради, из перспективе финансијског тржишта, stable coin пројекти, којима се покушава решити проблем волатилности, тренутно су иновација која највише обећава (Syropyatov, 2021). Трећи разлог је тај што је крај 2008. године, због економске кризе која је тај период обележила, исправније интерпретирати као посртање антидржавне, laissez faire глобалистичке методологије и јачање државног интервенционизма, него као нови талас глобализације (Mellor, 2020). Коначно, исправно интерпретирање Биткоина као феномена могуће је једино у контексту врло хетерогене групе догађаја међу којима нарочито место заузима проглашење пандемије изазване SARS-CoV-2 вирусом.

Наиме, 11. марта 2020. године Светска здравствена организација прогласила је пандемију SARS-CoV-2 вируса. Вирус који је узрок обољења познатог под називом ковид 19, постао је катализатор читавог низа процеса. Због природе пандемије, пре свега чињенице да је током трајања пандемије било неопходно свести физичке контакте на минимум, природно је да је потрага за алтернативним моделима функционисања свакодневних активности убрзала процес дигитализације (Mijatović, 2022).

У ред појава и процеса код којих је промена карактера и интензитета најизраженија на првом месту налази се процес трансформације новца, генерално и финансијског тржишта, што је уосталом и научно доказано (Vareško i Deković, 2022). Наиме, систем размене добара какав је карактеристичан за монетарне економије данашњице није одувек постојао, нити је кроз различите епохе функционисао на исти начин. Од скромних почетака неформалног робноновчаног промета, базираног на локализованом личном контакту (Ström, 2020), евентуално на једноставним бартер аранжманима (Calcaterra et al., 2020; Mellor, 2020; Ström, 2020), преко увођења ретких метала као опште мере вредности робе, до појаве првог кованог новца, затим банкнота, коначно и електронског новца као репрезентације новца који се већ налази у оптицају, новац је кроз сопствену апстракцију (Ström, 2020) пратио интензивирање друштвених односа. Његова социјална и материјална апстракција погодовала је интензивном и екстензивном ширењу капиталистичког начина привређивања (Ström, 2020). Последица је континуирано смањење просторне, временске, а затим и културне дистанце. Смањење различитих видова дистанце иницирало је ново апстраховање новца, што је, у складу с потребама све интензивнијег привредног живота, резултирало његовом метаморфозом у врло софистициран финансијски инструмент.

Биткоин осећа и прати тенденције у развоју новца, а у контексту савремених друштвених релација има савршен смисао. Најпре, очигледно је постојање тенденције изградње електронских облика чувања новца и система плаћања. Њихове предности су неспорне и сматра се да такви системи повећавају ефикасност и у виртуелном и у реалном свету (Vareško i Deković, 2022). Оно што је у почетку деловало као крајње несигурна концепција, прихваћено је и раширено у тој мери да монетарни системи најразвијенијих земаља, по правилу, функционишу без било какве физичке репрезентације новца, то јест као cashless заједница (Calcaterra et al., 2020). Како Биткоин промовише употребу најновијих информационих технологија за чување и трансфер новца, јасно је да је претходна тенденција уважена у потпуности. Штавише, Биткоин не само да уважава тенденцију дематеријализације новца већ је и наставља и уздиже на квалитативно виши ниво.

Кроз peer-to-peer систем на којем почива промовише се digital trust, што омогућава директне трансакције међу корисницима (Ruslina, 2019). Иако се то може тумачити као разлог несигурности система (Ruslina, 2019), на овај начин елиминише се потреба за акредитованим посредницима који су есенцијални у традиционалним системима плаћања (Živanović i Vitomir, 2022; Raskin, 2015; Ronaghi, 2023; Horvatić i Tafra, 2022; Cavalheiro & Cavalheiro, 2022). Такође, елиминише се и могућност да се деси „двострука потрошња” (Ruslina, 2019), све то уз истовремено унапређење брзине обављања трансакција и смањење провизија (Teomete Yalabik & Yalabik, 2019). Трошкови чувања средстава, осим уколико се корисник не одлучи да криптографске кључеве похрани на напреднији cold wallet, практично не постоје. Иако би интуитивнији кориснички интерфејс олакшао употребу, Биткоин мрежа промовише апсолутну монетарну инклузију свих заинтересованих лица, омогућава лак приступ средствима и њиховом управљању. Најзад, овај систем плаћања имун је на државну и међународну регулативу (16), а самим тим и на границе држава – практично их не познаје, што иде у прилог тенденцији апстракције, универзализације и денационализације средстава плаћања.

Иако је начин његове примене константно еволуирао (17) (Vareško i Deković, 2022), инсистирамо на томе да Биткоин није валута, већ да је у питању систем плаћања. Уосталом, у том капацитету је и коришћен примарно, конкретно ради куповине и продаје робе и услуга путем интернета (Vareško i Deković, 2022). Ипак, будући да је временом постајао све глобалнији и разноврснији као инструмент (Karabulut & Sari, 2022), Биткоин је најавио крупне промене на међународном, глобализованом тржишту роба и капитала (Živanović i Vitomir, 2022). Неке од њих су се и десиле у претходном периоду. Но, како објашњавамо везу између пандемије SARS-CoV-2 вируса, Биткоина и четвртог таласа глобализације (18)?

Биткоин је привукао масовно интересовање 2017. годинe када су „Биткоин” и „како купити биткоин” били најчешће коришћени појмови у популарним претраживачима попут Гугла (Cavalheiro & Cavalheiro, 2022). Разлог је једноставан. Уз уважавање осталих квалитета, основна снага Биткоина лежи у одсуству могућности повећања количине јединица у оптицају (19), затим одсуству могућности копирања појединачних јединица које „циркулишу” унутар система, најзад и математички пројектованој динамици „пуштања у оптицај” предвиђене количине јединица (20) (Raskin, 2015). На основу тога, можемо рећи да се биткоин понаша као изразито дефлаторна валута, свакако под условом да га уопште посматрамо као валуту.

С друге стране, модерне државе имају суверенитет у погледу одређења средства плаћања, а ексклузивитет одређивања куповне моћи тог средства, након аброгације „златног стандарда”, делегирале су својим централним монетарним установама. Традиционални новац у потпуности је завистан од одлука и регулативе централних банака (Ronaghi, 2023). Поверење у централне банке и њихову пројекцију суштински je једини принцип за одређење вредности новца. Принцип тржишне привреде, златни стандард, лимитирани златни стандард, величина привредног раста и други механизми за одређење вредности новца замењени су „принудним курсом”. Није, дакле, претеривање рећи да не постоје „природне” или барем концептуалне границе продукције новца (Mellor, 2020).

Модел може ефикасно функционисати у време када нема потреса, но све несавршености поставке до изражаја долазе управо у време криза, нарочито оним глобалних размера као што је пандемија вируса SARS-CoV-2, и то из разлога што на овакве кризе, када је привредни живот успорен или чак стопиран, а буџетска потрошња повећана, неоптерећене обавезом да за то обезбеде покриће, државе посежу за непопуларним мерама које подразумевају повећање количине новца у оптицају. (21) У таквом амбијенту, природно, систем који се базира једино на поверењу у централну монетарну институцију показује инфериорност у односу на систем који се базира на поверењу у математичке гаранције лимитиране понуде и сигурности плаћања. Следствено, тврдња о томе да се поверење у јавне (државне) институције не може поверити технологији (Sławiński, 2019) показује се као, благо речено, застарела. Ово је нарочито тачно након аброгације Bretton Woods споразума и „златног” стандарда када је окончана дефлаторна и започела инфлаторна ера у економској историји (Syropyatov, 2021). Дакле, иако је читав систем, након ере „слободног банкарства”, организован са циљем да обезбеди стабилност у временима кризе (Sławiński, 2019), парадоксално, управо у временима кризе показује се да је прерогатив државе у продукцији новца пре случајан него што је заиста потребан (Blaazer, 2020). Уосталом, случајеви Ел Салвадора (22) и Централноафричке Републике (23), у којима је усвојен низ прописа којима је Биткоин признат као средство плаћања у готово неограниченом капацитету, иако ове потезе треба тумачити као отворени економски експеримент, принципијелно потврђују капацитет ове иновације (24) (Cavalheiro & Cavalheiro, 2022) и стање у монетарним порецима.

У доба здравствене и економске кризе изазване пандемијом, повећана је потреба за укључењем реалне финансијске активе у портфолио (Živanović i Vitomir, 2022). Мисли се на тзв. safe haven имовину попут злата, затим и сребра (Živanović i Vitomir, 2022; Wen et al., 2022). Но, поред традиционалних облика заштитне финансијске активе, интересовање инвеститора усмерено је све више ка модерним облицима активе – примарно оне базиране на блокчејн технологији (Živanović i Vitomir, 2022). У њима, пре свега биткоину, могуће је наћи сличне, потенцијално чак и боље safe heaven особине него код злата (Ronaghi, 2023; Wen et al., 2022) или деоница (Vareško i Deković, 2022). Штавише, иако је истина да се биткоин суштински налази негде између злата и америчког долара (Syropyatov, 2021), истраживања недвосмислено потврђују како је диверсификација кроз биткоин, под условом да је у портфолио укључен и неки од традиционалних облика активе, добар потез чак и код оних инвеститора који нису склони ризику (Šoja i Senarthne, 2019).

Релативно ниска базна вредност биткоина у првим годинама трговања, услед огромног интересовања инвеститора за ову до тада непознату финансијску активу, у 2019. години мења се и постаје изузетно висока, а наставља да расте напоредно са негативним утицајем пандемије у наредном периоду (Živanović i Vitomir, 2022). У условима кризе изазване пандемијом, због изразитог државног интервенционизма и централизације у свим областима, биткоин као инструмент имун на државну регулативу и аполитичан, па и у односу на злато, испољава и неке додатне предности (Wen et al., 2022).

Истовремено са испољавањем првих слабости традиционалних централизованих монетарних система под притиском пандемије, изразито дефлаторна природа биткоина бива додатно истакнута кроз тзв. трећи halving event који се догодио 11. маја 2020. године. У таквим условима вредност биткоина иницијално расте безмало 10 пута и у наредном периоду достиже вредност од готово 65.000 америчких долара за један биткоин.

Цена биткоина изузетно је интересантан показатељ. Познато је, наиме, да цена биткоина зависи једино од односа понуде и тражње, односно потражње, будући да је понуда програмски ограничена и укупно и периодично. Прецизније, укупна количина биткоина који се могу наћи у оптицају је ограничена кодом на 21.000.000, али је, због програмиране динамике пуштања у оптицај, тренутно у промету тек нешто више од 90% укупне количине. Дакле, према ценама формираним на специјализованим платформама, у условима двоструко ограничене понуде, произлази да је тражња за биткоином у једном тренутку била многоструко већа од тражње за најјачом класичном валутом.

Тачно је да таква цена није била одржива, па је јењавањем пандемије и консолидацијом финансијских токова тражња за биткоином опадала. У тренутку израде рада креће се око 20.000 америчких долара. У том смислу, сасвим се чини рационалном критика волатилности цене биткоина, али и шпекулативног карактера овог облика имовине (Šoja i Senarathne, 2019). Критика нестабилности, иако постоји сасвим рационална и до детаља описана аргументација зашто се суштински дешава (Syropyatov, 2021), апсолутно је на месту. Нагли пораст и пад цене није нешто што је неуобичајено када је у питању криптоимовина, а оваква тенденција ће се засигурно наставити барем до момента када тржиште достигне критични волумен. То природно подгрева неповерење. Међутим, само на први поглед.

Наиме, када би подухват који је апсолутна новина, на иначе врло ригидном финансијском тржишту, била номинално барем једнака најјачој валути, то би био изузетан резултат по себи. Но, без обзира на значајан пад цене у односу на 2021. годину, садашња цена показује да су субјекти на финансијском тржишту, грубо речено, у 19.999 трансакција пре вољни да прихвате биткоин него амерички долар. Из реторичког питања „какво је онда стање са поверењем у остале, релативно слабије валуте?” произлази као сасвим логичан закључак да биткоин и други слични пројекти неспорно преузимају примат и савремено финансијско тржиште постепено обликују у децентрализовано окружење имуно на државну регулативу, следствено државне и све друге врсте граница.

---

1. Технолошке иновације о којима говоримо подразумевају, без претензија да их све обухватимо, имплементацију TCP/IP технологије, изградњу напреднијих програмских језика, напредак криптографије, нарочито hash функција, конструисање тзв. Меркеловог дрвета. Творац Биткоина, такође, успешно је комбиновао искуства неких ранијих покушаја изградње дигиталних валута, примера ради B-money и HashCash (Antonopoulos, 2010).
2. Иако има елемената на основу којих је Биткоин могуће исправно интерпретирати као валуту, идеја творца била је заправо најпре да створи економичнији и ефикаснији систем плаћања, пре свега код трансфера мале вредности (Živanović i Vitomir, 2022). Зато смо склонији ка томе да овај софтвер означимо као систем плаћања.
3. Исто важи и за моменат регистрације интернет домена www.bitcoin.org, за који неки аутори (Živanović i Vitomir, 2022) везују укључивање Биткона на међународно финансијско тржиште.
4. Могућност употребе блокчејн технологије није ограничена на изградњу система плаћања. У (децентрализованом) финансијском систему она се већ сада користи за формирање штедних улога, издавање полиса осигурања, пласирање кредита, трговање и управљање акцијама и обвезницама, прикупљање оснивачког капитала. Ван финансијског система она има потенцијал да се искористи за формирање катастара, вођење и чување медицинских картона или праћење пређене километраже коришћених аутомобила. Штавише, почетком јула 2020. године на референдуму је, поводом предложених уставних промена у Русији, део становништва са правом гласа своје активно бирачко право реализовао кроз софтвер базиран на блокчејн технологији. Детаљније о другим облицима коришћења блокчејн технологије видети у Ronaghi, 2023.
5. У том контексту, Ронаги (2023) нуди опсежну студију о томе како је увођење санкција Ирану од стране САД и ЕУ погодовало промоцији криптовалута, пре свега Биткоина, са циљем превазилажења негативних ефеката забрана које су у вези са интернационалним пословањем привредних субјеката, али и са свакодневним активностима појединаца на територији ове земље.
6. Ово потврђује и свеобухватна студија о броју, врстама и дистрибуцији патената који се односе директно на Биткоин, а који унапређују софтверску поставку на којој функционише. О томе детаљније видети у Cavalheiro & Cavalheiro, 2022.
7. Ипак, слажемо се у потпуности са ауторима који указују на то да је због релативне краткоће времена трајања врхунца пандемије и дневних флуктуација тешко извести сигурне закључке, не толико да ли је, већ у којој мери је пандемија заправо иницирала промене на традиционалном финансијском тржишту (Vareško i Deković, 2022).
8. Укупна количина биткоина која се може наћи у оптицају ограничена је на 21.000.000 кроз тзв. source code који се сматра непроменљивим. Ипак, будући да је Биткоин суштински особени софтвер, он није апсолутно затворен за измене, но, да би се таква измена десила у потпуно децентрализованом систему, потребно је да већина „нодова” у мрежи изрази сагласност са предложеним повећањем волумена биткоина. Сасвим је основано закључити да у мрежи са хиљадама „нодова” који су„DeFi ентузијасти” није вероватно формирати већину око става да се мрежа одрекне „ограничене понуде” као особине која је чини апсолутно супериорном у односу на традиционалне монетарне системе.
9. Мрежа је програмирана тако да се комплексност математичког проблема који је потребно решити у процесу „рударења” управља према количини већ изрудареног биткоина. Сваки блок има капацитет од 1МВ, што му омогућава да у себи меморише око 4.000 трансакција. Блок плански бива попуњен сваких 10 минута у просеку. Сваким додатим блоком у оптицај се пушта одређена количина нових биткоина. На сваких 210.000 доданих блокова, број биткоина који ће бити пуштен у оптицај по блоку смањује се за једну половину (halving). То нам омогућава да имамо извесну динамику пуштања јединица у оптицај (Antonopoulos, 2014; Horvatić i Tafra, 2022).
10. Примера ради, процена је да су само Сједињене Америчке Државе у последњих неколико месеци у оптицај пустиле преко 3,5 трилиона нових банкнота, а да је Европска централна банка дала зелено светло за штампање преко једног трилиона евра.
11. Ley Bitcoin, Diario Oficial ES, 110/2021, Decreto No 57.
12. République Centrafricaine Cryptomonnaie, Journal Officiel CAF, 22/2022.
13. Ова настојања, иако и она потврђују капацитет криптовалута заснованих на блокчејн технологији, суштински не треба мешати са настојањима држава или наддржавних институција да изграде своје дигиталне и криптовалуте. О томе детаљније видети у Mijatović, 2022.

Закључна разматрања (увод у наредни рад)

Процес дигитализације новца реорганизује постојећу пословну праксу и доноси социјалне, политичке, онтолошке, чак и еколошке промене, a истовремено интензивира концетрацију и централизацију у процесу доношења одлука на глобалном нивоу (Ström, 2020). Но, криптовалуте, пре свега Биткоин, иако јесу дигиталне по свом карактеру, не прате ову тенденцију. Управо супротно, Биткоин почива на идеји свесног одрицања контроле управљачких механизама у корист мреже компјутера која покреће софтвер (Magnuson, 2022; Ruslina, 2019). Он представља модел утопијског нивоа глобалне децентрализације, и то не само у финансијском сектору. То је темељна идеја која је окупила највећи, свакодневно растући број учесника у систему (25).

Иако је због новине феномена и непостојања адекватне временске дистанце у односу на коју бисмо процењивали стварне ефекте незахвално изводити закључке или правити пројекције, сматрамо, а то је уједно став и у академским круговима, да криптовалуте представљају изванредну новину (Karabulut & Sari, 2022). Оне засноване на блокчејн технологији, а које нису централизоване, имају моћ да национална тржишта претворе у регионална, а регионална даље у глобална. У том смислу заиста делује као да историја глобализације не памти инструмент који у тој мери интензивира дешавања и процесе.

Уколико то ипак није довољно за закључак да су криптовалуте, засноване на блокчејн технологији, изванредан катализатор процеса глобализације, онда треба нагласити следеће. Изградња и пуштање у рад Биткоина, али и читавог низа других пројеката, објективно, у другом је плану у односу на изградњу такозваног DeFi система, којем су пут трасирала техничка и економска решења имплементирана у Биткоин. Систем је осмишљен тако да у својој идеалној форми, уз напомену да је систем још увек у изградњи, обезбеђује: 1) пуну контролу средстава; 2) апсолутну инклузивност; 3) децентрализовану верификацију исправног рада система; 4) неограничену могућност изградње нових финансијских услуга и производа (Werner et al., 2021). Андреас Антонопулос у својим многобројним предавањима прави аналогију у односу на интернет из времена када је једина апликација унутар система била имејл. Он истиче да уколико DeFi монетарни систем упоредимо са интернетом, Биткоин, иако импресиван по својим технолошким решењима, био би тек имејл, односно прва функционална апликација унутар система. Данас, верујемо, не најбоља и дефинитивно не једина.

Иако идеја делује футуристички, делови DeFi система постају видљиви. Унутар њега је већ могуће успешно куповати, продавати, штедети, закључити уговор о осигурању или кредиту, трговати акцијама, инвестирати, водити хуманитарне фондове, све без интервенције државе, без посредника, без територијалних ограничења, уз криптографски гарантовану безбедност (26). Према доступним подацима, простор је у сталном порасту: конкретно, за непуне две године укупна вредност у промету је порасла са 700 милиона на 150 милијарди америчких долара (Werner et al., 2021). Систем је у повоју и потребно је још много рада да би он постао потпуно оперативан и одржив на нормативном нивоу (Werner et al., 2021). Но, чињеница је да на идеолошком нивоу представља озбиљну претњу постојећем ригидном финансијском систему.

Ипак, степен глобализованости којем данашње друштво тежи не окончава се ни окончањем радова на изградњи DeFi система. Ако уз извесну дозу апстракције пратимо претходно поменуту аналогију Андреаса Антонопулоса, слично као што Биткоин налази примену као један од функционалних елемената DeFi система без обзира на ком блокчејну је изграђен, DeFi систем је тек један од механизма, односно апликација унутар далеко већег пројекта познатог под називом Web 3.0. Блокчејн технологија сматра се есенцијалном за реализацију сада већ мејнстрим идеја у технолошком свету познатих као „интернет ствари” (IoT) и „интернет свега” (IoE) (Horvatić i Tafra, 2022). Ови пројекти децентрализовану глобализацију промовишу шире, тј. ван економских токова, наравно, примарно у дигиталном свету. Но, како су свакодневне активности данас неодвојиво везане за интернет, остварени ефекти глобализованости у дигиталном свету, очекивано, прелиће се у све сфере друштвеног живота.

---

1. И не само да је број учесника у мрежи и корисника у сталном порасту, већ је и тржиште криптовалута све веће према економским критеријумима. Процена је да само тржиште биткоина достиже размере од 1,2 трилиона америчких долара (Cavalheiro & Cavalheiro, 2022).
2. Приказ појединих маркантних решења са техничким специфичностима, мада нису сви део DeFi система, видети у Mijatović, 2022.

---

Литература

• Антић, Ч. (2003). Глобализација и историја. У: М. Вучинић (ур.), Аспекти глобализације (стр. 42−49). Београд: Београдска отворена школа. http ://www.bos. rs/materijali/aspekti.pdf
• Димитријевић, М. (2018). Електронски новац у савременом монетарном праву. Зборник радова Правног факултета у Нишу, 57 (81), 221–236. https ://doi. org/10.5937/zrpfni1983061D
• Марковић, Д. Ж. и Булатовић, И. Ж. (2014). Социологија – основни појмови и савремено друштво. Београд: Београдска пословна школа − Висока школа струковних студија.
• Печујлић, М. (2002). Глобализација – два лика света. Београд: Гутенбергова галаксија. Попић, С. (2018). Идеје о глобализацији у часопису „Социолошки преглед” – могућност примене Хелдове поделе школа мишљења. Социолошки преглед, 52 (1), 147–180. https ://doi.org/10.5937/socpreg52-16798
• Попић, С. и Шуваковић, У. (2014). Академик Радомир Д. Лукић – претеча проучавања глобализације у Србији. Теме, 1 (38), 377−390.
• Радуловић, С. (2017). Аутономни концепт односа лекара и пацијента као продукт другог таласа глобализације. Зборник радова Правног факултета у Нишу, 56 (76), 467−478.
• Џамић, В. (2014). Глобализација: њено теоријско утемељење и њене противречности. Зборник Матице српске за друштвене науке, 149, 1001−1011. https:// doi.org/10.2298/ZMSDN1449001D
• Шуваковић, У. (2013). Традиција и модернизација. Српска политичка мисао, 41 (3), 57−75.
• Abramowitz, M. B. (2016). Cryptocurrency-based law. Arizona Law Review, 58(2), 359–420. Antonopoulos, A. (2010). Mastering Bitcoin: Unlocking Digital Cryptocurrencies. Sebastopol: O’Reilly Media, Inc.
• Blaazer, D. (2020). Bitcoin in the longue durée: Money, the state and cryptocurrency. Australian Humanities Review, 66, 196−203. Calcaterra, C., Kaal, W. A., & Rao, V. (2020). Stable cryptocurrencies. Washington University Journal of Law & Policy, 61, 193−227.
• Cavalheiro, G. M. do C., & Cavalheiro, M. B. (2022). Assessing technological trends through patent landscaping: The case of bitcoin. Journal of World Intellectual Property, 25(1), 206–219. https ://doi.org/10.1111/jwip.12216
• Chumakov, A. N. (2010). Philosophy of Globalization. Moscow: MAKS Press.
• Cifrić, I. (2009). Kultura i okoliš. Zaprešić: VŠPU.
• Domišljanović, M. (2000). Globalizacija i mogućnost izbora. Diskrepancija, 1 (2), 41−45.
• Garratt, R., & Wallace, N. (2018). Bitcoin 1, Bitcoin 2, ...: An experiment in privately issued outside monies. Economic Inquiry, 56(3), 1887−1897. https: //doi.org/10.1111/ecin.12569
• Giddens, A. (1990). The Consequences of Modernity. Stanford: Stanford University Press Hayek, F. A. (1976). Denationalization of Money (An Analysis of the Theory and Practice of Concurrent Currencies). London: The Institute of Economic Affairs.
• Horvatić, H. i Tafra, V. (2022). Identifikacija komercijalne blockchain tehnologije te izazovi i opasnosti primjene kroz konkretne primjere. Obrazovanje za poduzetništvo – E4E, 12 (2), 105−120. https ://doi.org/10.38190/ope.12.2.7
• Karabulut, T., & Sari, S. S. (2022). The attitude of academic staff towards bitcoin. Ekonomski vjesnik, 35 (1), 55−67. https ://doi.org/10.51680/ev.35.1.5
• Magnuson, J. W. (2022). The failure of market efficiency. Brigham Young University Law Review, 48(3), 827−908. http ://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4096270
• Mellor, M. (2020). Bitcoin and the myths of neoliberalism. Australian Humanities Review, 66, 204−209.
• Mijatović, N. (2022). Pravna (ne)uređenost kriptovaluta i njihov utjecaj na industriju osiguranja. Hrvatski časopis za osiguranje, 6, 93−106.
• Mirjanich, N. (2014). Digital money: Bitcoin’s financial and tax future despite regulatory uncertainty. DePaul Law Review, 64(1), 213–248.
• Nahorniak, I., Leonova, K., & Skorokhod, V. (2016). Cryptocurrency in the context of development of digital single market in European Union. InterEULawEast, 3(1), 107–124.
• Raskin, M. I. (2015). Realm of the coin: Bitcoin and civil procedure. Fordham Journal of Corporate & Financial Law, 20(4), 969–1011.
• Ronaghi, M. H. (2023). A contextualized study of blockchain technology adoption as a digital currency platform under sanctions. Management Decision, 61(5), 1352−1373. https ://doi.org/10.1108/MD-03-2022-0392
• Ruslina, E. (2019). Legal protection for bitcoin users in E-commerce transactions. Journal of Internet Law, 23(4), 3–6.
• Sławiński, A. (2019). Will IT technologies and globalisation change the mechanism of money creation?. Zarządzanie Publiczne / Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Krakowie, 4(50), 5–14. https ://doi.org/10.15678/ZP.2019.50.4.01
• Šoja, T. i Senarathne, C. W. (2019). Bitcoin i diversifikacija portfolija – perspektiva globalnog investitora. Bankarstvo, 48 (4), 44−63. https ://doi.org/10.5937/bankarstvo1904044S Ström, Т. Е. (2020). Abstracting money: Cryptocurrencies, cybernetics and contradictions. Australian Humanities Review, 66, 188−195.
• Syropyatov, V. A. (2021). Stablecoins as an implementation of Hayek’s private money theory. Russian Journal of Economics and Law, 2, 318–331. http ://dx.doi. org/10.21202/1993-047X.15.2021.2.318-331
• Teomete Yalabık, F., & Yalabık, İ. (2019). Anonymous bitcoin v enforcement law. International Review of Law, Computers & Technology, 33(1), 34–52.
• Vareško, A. i Deković, D. (2022). Utjecaj pandemije COVID 19 na povezanost kretanja cijena bitcoina i vodećih svjetskih burzovnih indeksa. Zbornik radova Međimurskog veleučilišta u Čakovcu, 13 (2), 89−99.
• Wen, F., Tong, X., & Ren, X. (2022). Gold or bitcoin, which is the safe haven during the COVID-19 pandemic?. International Review of Financial Analysis, 81, 102–121. https ://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2022.102121
• Werner, S. M., Perez, D., Gudgeon, L., Klages-Mundt, A., Harz, D., & Knottenbelt, W. J. (2021). SoK: Decentralized finance. arXiv preprint arXiv:2101.08778, 1−17.
• Zebec, S. (2018). Pravna regulacija bitcoina i ostalih virtualnih valuta u nekim neeuropskim zemljama i hrvatskom zakonodavstvu. Zbornik radova Međimurskog veleučilišta u Čakovcu, 9 (1), 87−91.
• Živanović, V. i Vitomir, J. (2022). Nove tehnologije i uloga kriptovaluta na nivou in- vesticionog portfolija. Megatrend revija, 19 (1), 1−16. https ://doi.org/10.5937/ MegRev2201001Z

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

“The future is there... staring back at us. Trying to make sense of the fiction we will have become.” — William Gibson.

This month is the 4th anniversary of kycnot.me. Thank you for being here.

Fifteen years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin, a peer-to-peer electronic cash system: a decentralized currency free from government and institutional control. Nakamoto's whitepaper showed a vision for a financial system based on trustless transactions, secured by cryptography. Some time forward and KYC (Know Your Customer), AML (Anti-Money Laundering), and CTF (Counter-Terrorism Financing) regulations started to come into play.

What a paradox: to engage with a system designed for decentralization, privacy, and independence, we are forced to give away our personal details. Using Bitcoin in the economy requires revealing your identity, not just to the party you interact with, but also to third parties who must track and report the interaction. You are forced to give sensitive data to entities you don't, can't, and shouldn't trust. Information can never be kept 100% safe; there's always a risk. Information is power, who knows about you has control over you.

Information asymmetry creates imbalances of power. When entities have detailed knowledge about individuals, they can manipulate, influence, or exploit this information to their advantage. The accumulation of personal data by corporations and governments enables extensive surveillances.

Such practices, moreover, exclude individuals from traditional economic systems if their documentation doesn't meet arbitrary standards, reinforcing a dystopian divide. Small businesses are similarly burdened by the costs of implementing these regulations, hindering free market competition^1:

How will they keep this information safe? Why do they need my identity? Why do they force businesses to enforce such regulations? It's always for your safety, to protect you from the "bad". Your life is perpetually in danger: terrorists, money launderers, villains... so the government steps in to save us.

‟Hush now, baby, baby, don't you cry Mamma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true Mamma's gonna put all of her fears into you Mamma's gonna keep you right here, under her wing She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing Mamma's gonna keep baby cosy and warm” — Mother, Pink Floyd

We must resist any attack on our privacy and freedom. To do this, we must collaborate.

If you have a service, refuse to ask for KYC; find a way. Accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero. Commit to circular economies. Remove the need to go through the FIAT system. People need fiat money to use most services, but we can change that.

If you're a user, donate to and prefer using services that accept such currencies. Encourage your friends to accept cryptocurrencies as well. Boycott FIAT system to the greatest extent you possibly can.

This may sound utopian, but it can be achieved. This movement can't be stopped. Go kick the hornet's nest.

“We must defend our own privacy if we expect to have any. We must come together and create systems which allow anonymous transactions to take place. People have been defending their own privacy for centuries with whispers, darkness, envelopes, closed doors, secret handshakes, and couriers. The technologies of the past did not allow for strong privacy, but electronic technologies do.” — Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto

The anniversary

Four years ago, I began exploring ways to use crypto without KYC. I bookmarked a few favorite services and thought sharing them to the world might be useful. That was the first version of kycnot.me — a simple list of about 15 services. Since then, I've added services, rewritten it three times, and improved it to what it is now.

kycnot.me has remained 100% independent and 100% open source^2 all these years. I've received offers to buy the site, all of which I have declined and will continue to decline. It has been DDoS attacked many times, but we made it through. I have also rewritten the whole site almost once per year (three times in four years).

The code and scoring algorithm are open source (contributions are welcome) and I can't arbitrarly change a service's score without adding or removing attributes, making any arbitrary alterations obvious if they were fake. You can even see the score summary for any service's score.

I'm a one-person team, dedicating my free time to this project. I hope to keep doing so for many more years. Again, thank you for being part of this.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

After almost 3 months of work, we've completed the redesign of kycnot.me. More modern and with many new features.

Privacy remains the foundation - everything still works with JavaScript disabled. If you enable JS, you will get some nice-to-have features like lazy loading and smoother page transitions, but nothing essential requires it.

User Accounts

We've introduced user accounts that require zero personal information:

• Secret user tokens - no email, no phone number, no personal data
• Randomly generated usernames for default privacy and fairness
• Karma system that rewards contributions and unlocks features: custom display names, profile pictures, and more.

Reviews and Community Discussions

On the previous sites, I was using third party open source tools for the comments and discussions. This time, I've built my own from scratch, fully integrated into the site, without JavaScript requirements.

Everyone can share their experiences and help others make informed decisions:

• Ratings: Comments can have a 1-5 star rating attached. You can have one rating per service and it will affect the overall user score.
• Discussions: These are normal comments, you can add them on any listed service.

Comment Moderation

I was strugling to keep up with moderation on the old site. For this, we've implemented an AI-powered moderation system that:

• Auto-approves legitimate comments instantly
• Flags suspicious content for human review
• Keeps discussions valuable by minimizing spam

The AI still can mark comments for human review, but most comments will get approved automatically by this system. The AI also makes summaries of the comments to help you understand the overall sentiment of the community.

Powerful Search & Filtering

Finding exactly what you need is now easier:

• Advanced filtering system with many parameters. You can even filter by attributes to pinpoint services with specific features.

The results are dynamic and shuffle services with identical scores for fairness.

See all listings

Listings are now added as 'Community Contributed' by default. This means that you can still find them in the search results, but they will be clearly marked as such.

Updated Scoring System

New dual-score approach provides more nuanced service evaluations:

• Privacy Score: Measures how well a service protects your personal information and data

• Trust Score: Assesses reliability, security, and overall reputation

• Combined into a weighted Overall Score for quick comparisons

• Completely transparent and open source calculation algorithm. No manual tweaking or hidden factors.

AI-Powered Terms of Service Analysis

Basically, a TLDR summary for Terms of Service:

• Automated system extracts the most important points from complex ToS documents
• Clear summaries
• Updated monthly to catch any changes

The ToS document is hashed and only will be updated if there are any changes.

Service Events and Timelines

Track the complete history of any service, on each service page you can see the timeline of events. There are two types of events:

• Automatic events: Created by the system whenever something about a service changes, like its description, supported currencies, attributes, verification status…
• Manual events: Added by admins when there’s important news, such as a service going offline, being hacked, acquired, shut down, or other major updates.

There is also a global timeline view available at /events

Notification System

Since we now have user accounts, we built a notifiaction system so you can stay informed about anything:

• Notifications for comment replies and status changes
• Watch any comment to get notified for new replies.
• Subscribe to services to monitor events and updates
• Notification customization.

Coming soon: Third-party privacy-preserving notifications integration with Telegram, Ntfy.sh, webhooks...

Service Suggestions

Anyone with an account can suggest a new service via the suggestion form. After submitting, you'll receive a tracking page where you can follow the status of your suggestion and communicate directly with admins.

All new suggestions start as "unlisted" — they won't appear in search results until reviewed. Our team checks each submission to ensure it's not spam or inappropriate. If similar services already exist, you'll be shown possible duplicates and can choose to submit your suggestion as an edit instead.

You can always check the progress of your suggestion, respond to moderator questions, and see when it goes live, everything will also be notified to your account. This process ensures high-quality listings and a collaborative approach to building the directory.

---

These are some of the main features we already have, but there are many more small changes and improvements that you will find when using the site.

What's Next?

This is just the beginning. We will be constantly working to improve KYCnot.me and add more features that help you preserve your privacy.

Remember: True financial freedom requires the right to privacy. Stay KYC-free!

@ beef3d4d:479b72bc

Costantino e il solidus

Quando Costantino il Grande prese in mano le redini dell'impero, ne risollevò le sorti adottando riforme economiche lungimiranti. Tra gli impegni assunti, il più importante fu quello di mantenere il solidus a 4,5 grammi d'oro senza tagli o svalutazioni, coniandolo in grandi quantità a partire dal 312 d.C.. Spostò poi la capitale verso est, a Bisanzio, nel punto di incontro tra Asia ed Europa, dando vita all'Impero Romano d'Oriente, che adottò il solidus come moneta.

Mentre Roma continuava a deteriorarsi economicamente, socialmente e culturalmente, crollando infine nel 476 d.C., Bisanzio, poi rinominata Costantinopoli, sopravvisse per quasi 1200 anni, e il solidus divenne la moneta più longeva e accettata della storia.

Il nome Bisanzio vuole quindi essere un omaggio alla saggezza di Costantino e celebrare l’unica moneta nella storia dell’umanità capace di durare oltre un millennio. Un esempio ed un auspicio per la Bitcoin, moneta di oro digitale che ci accompagnerà per un lunghissimo tempo.

\ Vedi anche: Monetazione bizantina su Wikipedia.

Il problema dei generali bizantini

Il termine Bitcoin soffre di un’ambiguità semantica: con lo stesso termine si indicano due cose ben diverse tra loro: il protocollo di comunicazione e la moneta digitale costruita su di esso. Bitcoin inteso come protocollo rappresenta la prima soluzione a un problema informatico, centrale per il funzionamento di sistemi distribuiti, denominato problema dei generali bizantini, formulato nel 1982 e che e’ rimasto irrisolto per decenni.

La sua formulazione e’ tipicamente la seguente:

> Diverse divisioni dell’esercito bizantino, ciascuna guidata da un generale, sono accampate in posizioni strategiche attorno a una città nemica e dovono condividere una strategia di attacco coordinato per poter sopraffare il nemico. Le divisioni possono comunicare solo mediante messaggeri al fine di coordinare l’attacco decisivo. Il terreno impedisce alle divisioni bizantine di comunicare a distanza e queste possono comunicare solo tramite dei messaggeri. Come possono le varie divisioni accordarsi per un attacco congiunto sapendo che i messaggeri che inviano potrebbero essere catturati dal nemico, o che alcuni generali potrebbero addirittura tradire e mandare messaggeri con ordini sbagliati?

Il problema che devono risolvere i generali bizantini è lo stesso che affligge i sistemi di elaborazione distribuiti. Come raggiungere un consenso su una rete distribuita in cui alcuni nodi che la costituiscono possono essere difettosi o corrotti?

Il protocollo Bitcoin offre una soluzione a questo problema introducendo il concetto di “prova di lavoro” (proof of work) e della “catena di blocchi” (blockchain). E quindi, nuovamente, il nome Bisanzio si collega a Bitcoin ed alla principale innovazione tecnologica da esso introdotta.

Vedi anche: Byzantine fault su Wikipedia.

PS

Come resistere poi alla disponibilità del dominio internet bisanz.io? :)

@ 91117f2b:111207d6

The debate about the strongest superhero between Marvel and DC has been ongoing for decades. Here's a breakdown of the top contenders:

Top 3 Strongest Marvel Heroes:

• Thor: As the Asgardian God of Thunder, Thor possesses formidable strength, durability, and control over elements like lightning and storms. His mastery over Mjolnir, his enchanted hammer, makes him a force to be reckoned with.

• Silver Surfer: With his Power Cosmic, Silver Surfer wields immense energy manipulation abilities, super strength, and speed. He's a formidable opponent in the Marvel universe.

• Thanos: As a powerful Eternal with Deviant genes, Thanos possesses extraordinary strength, durability, and regenerative abilities. His cosmic energy manipulation and telepathic skills make him nearly unbeatable.

Top 3 Strongest DC Heroes:

• Superman: With his Kryptonian origin, Superman's abilities include immense strength, speed, invulnerability, and sensory powers like heat vision and X-ray vision.

• Spectre: As the physical embodiment of the Wrath of God, Spectre has near-omnipotent power levels, manipulating time, space, matter, and energy on a cosmic scale.

• Doctor Manhattan: With his ability to perceive and manipulate reality, Doctor Manhattan's powers are unparalleled. He can alter the course of history and disintegrate foes with a mere thought.

The Strongest of Them All

According to recent rankings, the One Above All from Marvel takes the top spot as the most powerful character, surpassing even the likes of Spectre and Doctor Manhattan. The One Above All's omnipotent nature and role as the creator of the Marvel multiverse solidify its position as the ultimate authority ¹.

Ultimately, determining the strongest superhero between Marvel and DC is subjective and depends on the context of the story or battle. Both universes boast an array of formidable characters, each with unique abilities and strengths. In other words the strongest, and in a death match depends on the character, powers and the story context. But in all DC is said to be the strongest in a group fight of both MARVEL and DC.

@ f3873798:24b3f2f3

Muito se fala sobre racismo no Brasil. A mídia, os políticos e os intelectuais engajados repetem discursos antirracistas, promovem campanhas e ergueram bandeiras pela igualdade. No entanto, existe uma hipocrisia gritante quando olhamos para a realidade dos povos indígenas no país.

No Brasil, o indígena ainda é, juridicamente, tratado como incapaz de decidir por si mesmo, sendo suas terras consideradas propriedade da União. Isso significa, na prática, que tudo o que diz respeito à sua cultura, território e desenvolvimento precisa do “amém” do Estado. É um tipo de tutela que remete aos tempos coloniais, onde os “civilizados” decidiam o que era melhor para os “selvagens”.

O mais engraçado e trágico deste fato, é que não há nenhum movimento midiático que aborda sobre a existência absurda deste tipo de regimento jurídico, não há influenciar não há atores e atrizes da Globo, nem cantores que questione e lance a pauta

Como falar em fim da escravidão ou combate ao racismo estrutural, se ainda hoje tratamos povos inteiros como se fossem incapazes de autodeterminação?

Enquanto isso, o governo federal, representado atualmente por figuras como “Tio Lule”, negocia e entrega terras indígenas para interesses geopolíticos, sustentando ditaduras e alianças internacionais, enquanto os próprios povos originários ficam à margem do desenvolvimento econômico.

Recursos como açaí, cupuaçu, babaçu e muitos outros produtos amazônicos serão explorados por empresas estrangeiras, que lucrarão intensamente, sem que as comunidades locais tenham condições mínimas de acesso aos meios de produção ou ao mercado. Isso destrói a economia regional, perpetua a dependência e impede que o verdadeiro protagonismo indígena aconteça.

Um ciclo que se repete: a história da borracha

O que está em curso não é novidade. É uma repetição histórica. Basta lembrar do ciclo da borracha, quando os ingleses levaram sementes de seringueira da Amazônia para plantar na Ásia, quebrando o monopólio brasileiro e afundando a economia da região Norte, que até hoje carrega as marcas desse roubo histórico.

Agora, a história se repete, mas com outros nomes e produtos — e com o apoio explícito do Estado brasileiro.

@ a3c6f928:d45494fb

We live in a world that worships productivity and glorifies the grind. Rest is often seen as weakness, laziness, or a luxury you must earn. But true freedom includes the right to pause—to exhale, to be still, to exist without proving. Choosing rest isn’t stepping back—it’s stepping into wholeness.

The Lie of Endless Motion

We’re taught that to be worthy, we must be busy. We keep moving, not because we’re always inspired—but because we’re afraid of what stillness might reveal. But you are not a machine. You are a soul. And your value is not tied to output.

Why Rest Takes Courage

It means trusting that you’re enough—even when you’re doing nothing

It challenges the belief that busyness equals importance

It requires facing emotions we often outrun

It invites us to slow down in a world that keeps speeding up

Signs You Need Rest

Constant fatigue or irritability

Feeling disconnected from joy or purpose

Difficulty making decisions or being present

Losing the ability to celebrate wins

Reclaiming Your Right to Pause

1. Redefine Rest: Rest isn’t failure. It’s fuel.

2. Listen to Your Body: If it’s whispering, don’t wait for it to scream.

3. Release Guilt: Rest is not a reward. It’s a requirement.

4. Schedule Silence: Make time for nothing. Guard it like gold.

5. Celebrate Stillness: Let rest be sacred—not secret.

Why This Freedom Matters

Rest gives you back to yourself. It reconnects you to your wisdom, creativity, and humanity. In stillness, the truth becomes clear. In quiet, the next step finds you.

---

“You don’t need to earn your right to breathe. You already belong here.”

Choose rest. Claim space. That, too, is liberation.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Paris, France – June 6, 2025 – Flash, the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses, just announced a new partnership with the Bitcoin Only Brewery, marking the first-ever beverage company to leverage Flash for seamless Bitcoin payments. 

Bitcoin Buys Beer Thanks to Flash!

As Co-Founder of Flash, it's not every day we get to toast to a truly refreshing milestone.

Okay, jokes aside.

We're super buzzed to see our friends at @Drink_B0B
Bitcoin Only Brewery using Flash to power their online sales!

The first… pic.twitter.com/G7TWhy50pX

— Pierre Corbin (@CierrePorbin) June 3, 2025

Flash enables Bitcoin Only Brewery to offer its “BOB” beer with, no-KYC (Know Your Customer) delivery across Europe, priced at 19,500 sats (~$18) for the 4-pack – shipping included.

The cans feature colorful Bitcoin artwork while the contents promise a hazy pale ale: “Each 33cl can contains a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, hazy appearance and refreshing Pale Ale at 5% ABV,” reads the product description.

Pierre Corbin, Co-Founder of Flash, commented: “Currently, bitcoin is used more as a store of value but usage for payments is picking up. Thanks to new innovation on Lightning, bitcoin is ready to go mainstream for e-commerce sales.”

Flash, launched its 2.0 version in March 2025 with the goal to provide the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses worldwide. The platform is non-custodial and can enable both digital and physical shops to accept Bitcoin by connecting their own wallets to Flash.

By leveraging the scalability of the Lightning Network, Flash ensures instant, low-cost transactions, addressing on-chain Bitcoin bottlenecks like high fees and long wait times.

Bitcoin payment usage is growing thanks to Lightning

In May, fast-food chain Steak ‘N Shake went viral for integrating bitcoin at their restaurants around the world. In the same month, the bitcoin2025 conference in Las Vegas set a new world record with 4,000 Lightning payments in one day.

According to a report by River Intelligence, public Lightning payment volume surged by 266% from August 2023 to August 2024. This growth is also reflected in the overall accessibility of lighting infrastructure for consumers. According to Lightning Service Provider Breez, over 650 Million users now have access to the Lightning Network through apps like CashApp, Kraken or Strike.

Bitcoin Only Brewery’s adoption of Flash reflects the growing trend of businesses integrating Bitcoin payments to cater to a global, privacy-conscious customer base. By offering no-KYC delivery across Europe, the brewery aligns with the ethos of decentralization and financial sovereignty, appealing to the increasing number of consumers and businesses embracing Bitcoin as a legitimate payment method.

“Flash is committed to driving innovation in the Bitcoin ecosystem,” Corbin added. “We’re building a future where businesses of all sizes can seamlessly integrate Bitcoin payments, unlocking new opportunities in the global market. It’s never been easier to start selling in bitcoin and we invite retailers globally to join us in this revolution.”

For businesses interested in adopting Bitcoin payments, Flash offers a straightforward onboarding process, low fees, and robust support for both digital and physical goods. To learn more, visit paywithflash.com.

About Flash

Flash is the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses to accept payments. Supporting both digital and physical enterprises, Flash leverages the Lightning Network to enable fast, low-cost Bitcoin transactions. Launched in its 2.0 version in March 2025, Flash is at the forefront of driving Bitcoin adoption in e-commerce.

About Bitcoin Only Brewery

Bitcoin Only Brewery (@Drink_B0B) is a pioneering beverage company dedicated to the Bitcoin ethos, offering high-quality beers payable exclusively in Bitcoin. With a commitment to personal privacy, the brewery delivers across Europe with no-KYC requirements.

Media Contact:

Pierre Corbin
Co-Founder, Flash
Email: press@paywithflash.com
Website: paywithflash.comPhotos paywithflash.com/about/press

How Flash Enables Interoperable, Self-Custodial Bitcoin Commerce

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

Nostr is an open communication protocol that can be used to send messages across a distributed set of relays in a censorship resistant and robust way.

---

If you missed my nostr introduction post you can find it here. My nostr account can be found here.

---

We are nearly at the point that if something interesting is posted on a centralized social platform it will usually be posted by someone to nostr.

We are nearly at the point that if something interesting is posted exclusively to nostr it is cross posted by someone to various centralized social platforms.

We are nearly at the point that you can recommend a cross platform app that users can install and easily onboard without additional guides or resources.

As companies continue to build walls around their centralized platforms nostr posts will be the easiest to cross reference and verify - as companies continue to censor their users nostr is the best censorship resistant alternative - gradually then suddenly nostr will become the standard. 🫡

Current Nostr Stats

---

If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 41959693:3888319c

Überblick über die Anthologie

Die Anthologie „365 Tage Frieden“, herausgegeben von Rüdiger Heins und Michael Landgraf, erschien 2025 im Verlag EDITION MAYA. In diesem Werk haben über 100 Autoren ihre Gedanken zum Frieden geäußert und zeigen dabei thematisch wie stilistisch, welche Vielfalt und Komplexität unter diesem Begriff vereint werden kann.

Diese Buchbesprechung geht nicht auf einzelne Beiträge ein, sondern betrachtet die Zusammenstellung und Gesamtwirkung der Texte. Jedem Tag des Jahres wurde ein Text zugeordnet, wobei es keine feste Abgrenzung oder Reihenfolge von Lyrik und Prosa gibt. Das Aufschlagen einer neuen Seite bzw. eines neuen Tages ist stets eine Überraschung, ein Wunder, ähnlich dem Frieden wie einige Autoren meinen.

Die Stimmen der Autoren erreichen den Leser dabei nicht nur aus dem deutschsprachigen Raum, sondern international und als Querschnitt aus unterschiedlicher Perspektiven, Lebensweisen, Erfahrungen, Ängsten und Hoffnungen. Dies beginnt bereits bei der Definition des „Friedens“. Ist es das Schweigen der Waffen; die erbauliche Koexistenz? Ist es die Stille, die in der Andacht der Natur gefunden wird? Ist es innere Gelassenheit? Die thematische Inhomogenität der Texte kann keine klare Antwort finden – doch in dieser Offenheit liegt auch der Reiz, die vermeintlich kleine Gedankenwelt des in der Moderne gehetzt-gestressten Normalbürgers ebenso zu akzeptieren wie die innere Ruhe eines System-Aussteigers, der im Glauben steht, sich den großen Fragen des Universums zu widmen.

Doch zurück fällt das Gros der Texte unabhängig davon immer wieder auf die formelhafte Beschwörung von Harmonie, Liebe und Freiheit und der Wunsch nach Verständnis, Verständigung und einer sicheren Zukunft. Dieser ständige Rückgriff wirkt nicht ermüdend oder altbacken, nicht mit der Gewissheit im Hinterkopf, wie kostbar und leicht zerbrechlich der Frieden ist. Im Vorwort des Buches berichtet Michael Landgraf beispielsweise in einem kurzen historischen Abriss vom aufgezwungenen römischen Frieden über den dreißigjährigen Krieg bis zu den völkerrechtswidrigen Kriegen der Gegenwart. Im Nachwort erinnert Uli Rothfuss daran, welche Aufgabe gerade Autoren in solchen Zeiten zufällt und verstärkt die Erkenntnis, dass Frieden eine Leistung ist, an der alle mitwirken können.

Stil und Wirkung

Die Anthologie stützt sich auf das Abwechslungsreichtum der Beiträge: Hier überwiegen vor allem die lyrischen Werke und Prosagedichte. Es gibt auch vereinzelte Prosatexte, welche aber i. d. R. in ihrer Länge drei Seiten nicht überschreiten. Sprache wie Gattung sind vielfältig: nüchterner Essay, phonetische Sprachspiele, Aphorismen und Akrosticha, von ernst bis augenzwinkernd. Die Gedichte sind überwiegend reimlos und ohne Metrik, selten lösen sie sich ganz vom Schema klassischer Typografie und spielen so mit dem Betrachter. Immer wieder finden sich direkte und indirekte Zitate, die religiösen und philosophischen Schriften entstammen oder Persönlichkeiten zuzuordnen sind, welche sich als Aufklärer, Humanisten und Menschenrechtler einen Namen gemacht haben.

Thematisch sprechen die Autoren sich nicht nur für den Frieden aus, sondern illustrieren zum Teil auch verbal brutal die Schrecken des Krieges, zeigen die Zerstörung, den Schmerz, die Fremde und Einsamkeit. Wir erfahren von Hass, gezüchtet und blühend in den Rabatten. In einem Beitrag heißt es: „Da sah ich das Spiel der Liebe Arm in Arm mit den Drogen zum Dinner flanieren.“

Die Poesie soll uns mahnend im Gedächtnis bleiben und all die Bandbreite fassen; die Sicherheit des Friedens ebenso wie die Verzweiflung über die Sinnlosigkeit des Tötens. Diese Unnatürlichkeit, die uns als fühlende Wesen eigentlich fassungslos hinterlassen sollte, machen die Autoren durch ihre Sprache sichtbar: „Ich habe über den Frieden schreiben wollen, und dann verbrannte ich mich an Grablichtern.“

Fazit: Wie diese Anthologie helfen kann

„365 Tage Frieden“ ist nicht dafür geschrieben, sie wie ein gewöhnliches Buch von vorn bis hinten durchzublättern. Durch ihre Vielstimmigkeit soll sie Hoffnung wecken und mit dem Konzept, jeden Tag einen anderen Text vor sich zu haben, bindet sich der Leser an ein Stück Kontinuität.

Wer es sich zum Ritual machen möchte, jeden Tag einen Moment inne zu halten und einen der kleinen Friedenstexte zu lesen, wird gewiss die Möglichkeit finden, mit Vertrauen in die Zukunft zu blicken und sich gegen Angst zu wappnen. Die auch in zahlreichen Texten beschworenen Schrecken sollen dabei die Wichtigkeit des Friedens verdeutlichen und verschaffen der Reise durch das Jahr bzw. durch das Buch thematische und stilistische Abwechslung.

Der Wunsch nach Frieden und Versöhnung bleibt zeitlos, im Studium der Geschichte finden sich aber markante Punkte und Persönlichkeiten, die wir immer mit den großen Konflikten der Menschheit verbinden. Allgemeine, vergangene wie aktuelle Auseinandersetzungen, z. B. im Gaza-Streifen oder im Ukraine-Krieg kommen zur Ansprache, ebenso wie beispielsweise momentane Entwicklungen in den USA.

Wer dem Frieden eine Stimme geben möchte, kann durch dieses Buch seine Überzeugung stärken und die Stimmbänder emotional wie intellektuell trainieren. Die Schicksale und Beobachtungen der Autoren zeigen, dass wir fortwährend Fürsprecher für eine gemeinsame Zukunft brauchen werden.

---

365 Tage Frieden

Hrsg. Rüdiger Heins und Michael Landgraf

Verlag EDITION MAYA, 2025

ISBN: 978-3-930758-95-1

---

Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben.

Not yet on Nostr and want the full experience? Easy onboarding via Start.

Artikel findet man auch auf Telegram unter:

https://t.me/pareto_artikel

https://t.me/friedenstaube_artikel

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Ten years in Bitcoin can feel like an eternity. Just ask Sergej Kotliar, Founder and CEO of Bitrefill, who recently celebrated a decade of turning Bitcoin into something you can actually use in your everyday life.

“We started Bitrefill back in 2014,” Sergej reflects, thinking back to the early excitement around Bitcoin.

“The promise of internet money as a workaround to how cumbersome money was online motivated me. Imagine sending money as easily as sending an email. That’s still the vision driving us today.”

Bitrefill has evolved from a straightforward gift card provider into a full-fledged e-commerce powerhouse, allowing Bitcoiners to buy gift cards, eSIMs, mobile top-ups, and even prepaid debit cards.

From Netflix binges and Uber rides to topping up your phone in the middle of nowhere, Bitrefill supports more than 10,000 brands and over 900 phone carriers in more than 170 countries.

check out all the products and services at www.bitrefill.com

One challenge Sergej has navigated successfully is steering clear of hype-driven pitfalls. “We’ve always been a little bit better at building actual usage than at building hype,” he explains.

Instead of chasing every altcoin trend or speculative frenzy, Bitrefill has focused on the real-world, day-to-day use of bitcoin.

“The biggest challenge has always been finding the actual users of Bitcoin, not investors, but the ones who really want to use bitcoin in their everyday lives,” he emphasizes.

Bitrefill, he says proudly, has become the starting point for many users looking to spend bitcoin seamlessly.

“I think that people that use bitcoin transactionally and are looking to buy something with their coins. Very often, their customer journey starts with Bitrefill.”

Sergej isn’t shy about critiquing popular Bitcoin memes either. One particularly notable example is the “two S-curves” chart suggesting bitcoin first serves as a store of value, then as a medium of exchange.

“It’s maybe my least favorite chart,” Sergej laughs.

Bitcoin adoption curves — Source

While the chart lacks empirical data, notably missing any values on the y-axis, it does visualize a conceptual framework that many in the Bitcoin community find compelling.

The illustration suggests a natural progression where Bitcoin’s adoption follows two sequential S-curves:

first establishing itself as a store of value (the yellow curve peaking around 2029), followed by widespread adoption as a medium of exchange (the green curve peaking around 2037).

Despite its speculative nature, some argue this visualization effectively communicates the potential evolutionary path that many Bitcoiners envision, even if it wasn’t created with rigorous technical analysis.

What makes the Bitcoin ecosystem truly remarkable though is that builders like Sergej and his team at Bitrefill aren’t waiting for theoretical adoption curves to play out. They’re actively accelerating them.

By creating practical solutions for everyday Bitcoin transactions now, Bitrefill is working towards pulling that “medium of exchange” S-curve forward.

They aim to demonstrate that Bitcoin’s utility doesn’t have to follow a delayed timeline where store of value comes first.

Indeed, Sergej sees a more nuanced reality: Bitcoin serves different purposes for different people, simultaneously.

“There’s different people that use bitcoin for different things, and some want to invest in it and some use it as a tool,” Sergej clarifies.

“You can’t say that one of them is better than the other… it just is. Different people will use the same thing and they engage in the same market with different purposes.”

The Bitrefill philosophy is simple: practicality over hype. “Selling bitcoin to people is clearly a much bigger business than letting people shop with bitcoin,” Sergej acknowledges candidly.

Yet Bitrefill stands proudly as a market leader by volume for transactional bitcoin use. When YouTube travelers share their global adventures “living on bitcoin,” it’s Bitrefill powering most of those purchases. He notes with pride:

“If you watch these YouTubers ‘I spent a month traveling the world living on Bitcoin,’ there’s been quite a few of those… around 50 to 80 [percent], that a good chunk of their bitcoin usage ends up being with Bitrefill.”

And Bitrefill is not done innovating. Recently, they introduced the Bitrefill reloadable Visa card in Europe, designed for ease of use. Sergej explains:

“It’s a regulated product, you need to have an account and go through KYC and all of that, but once you have it, it’s a very simple straightforward no bulls*** method.

“you send in your bitcoin, Lightning works, and then you can just go and blip and pay, and then you don’t have to think about anything.”

Bitrefill offers reloadable Visa cards

To promote it, they’ve even been hiring people specifically to travel around Europe spending bitcoin and documenting the journey.

“We put up these ads and we hire someone and then we record them having the best day of their life spending money,” he says.

While acknowledging it’s partly a marketing stunt, he adds, “Paying some of our customers instead to spend the day having a blast and then record it and make content is a better choice than traditional advertising.”

Bitrefill on X

But Sergej has his eyes firmly on an even more futuristic horizon: a world where robots pay each other seamlessly.

“We’ve built an online monetary system that discriminates against bots because they’re usually associated with fraud,” Sergej notes.

“But soon, we’ll rely on AI to shop automatically for us. Having a fraud-free online payment method like Bitcoin could revolutionize how robotic agents transact.”

“In a world where everybody has a bunch of agents being robotic secretaries and so on, and given the fact that online commerce is currently designed specifically to keep out robots… I think there’s a big opportunity there,” he explains.

“Having an online payment method that is fraud-free should in theory be very useful for a world in which shopping happens automatically, for example, or how a robot will pay other robots.”

The intersection of how AI will leverage Bitcoin is a fascinating rabbit hole and discussion that is playing out in real time.

Sergej recommends Daniel Suarez’s novel “Daemon” for those intrigued by the potential (and risks) of AI-driven transactions.

“There’s tremendous opportunity here,” he teases, “and it’s definitely something we’re actively exploring at Bitrefill.”

Asked what he’d ask Satoshi Nakamoto if given the chance, Sergej pauses briefly. “I would ask him to tell me the story of how he left the space,” he finally answers.

Given Sergej’s decade-long journey with Bitrefill, his curiosity about Bitcoin’s creator’s departure feels particularly fitting.

Ten years is a long time in Bitcoin, but clearly, Sergej Kotliar and Bitrefill are just getting started.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

• The latest firmware updates for COLDCARD devices introduce two major features: COLDCARD Co-sign (CCC) and Key Teleport between two COLDCARD Q devices using QR codes and/or NFC with a website.

What's new

• COLDCARD Co-Sign: When CCC is enabled, a second seed called the Spending Policy Key (Key C) is added to the device. This seed works with the device's Main Seed and one or more additional XPUBs (Backup Keys) to form 2-of-N multisig wallets.
  • The spending policy functions like a hardware security module (HSM), enforcing rules such as magnitude and velocity limits, address whitelisting, and 2FA authentication to protect funds while maintaining flexibility and control, and is enforced each time the Spending Policy Key is used for signing.
  • When spending conditions are met, the COLDCARD signs the partially signed bitcoin transaction (PSBT) with the Main Seed and Spending Policy Key for fund access. Once configured, the Spending Policy Key is required to view or change the policy, and violations are denied without explanation.

"You can override the spending policy at any time by signing with either a Backup Key and the Main Seed or two Backup Keys, depending on the number of keys (N) in the multisig."

• A step-by-step guide for setting up CCC is available here.

• Key Teleport for Q devices allows users to securely transfer sensitive data such as seed phrases (words, xprv), secure notes and passwords, and PSBTs for multisig. It uses QR codes or NFC, along with a helper website, to ensure reliable transmission, keeping your sensitive data protected throughout the process.

  • For more technical details, see the protocol spec.

"After you sign a multisig PSBT, you have option to “Key Teleport” the PSBT file to any one of the other signers in the wallet. We already have a shared pubkey with them, so the process is simple and does not require any action on their part in advance. Plus, starting in this firmware release, COLDCARD can finalize multisig transactions, so the last signer can publish the signed transaction via PushTX (NFC tap) to get it on the blockchain directly."

• Multisig transactions are finalized when sufficiently signed. It streamlines the use of PushTX with multisig wallets.
• Signing artifacts re-export to various media. Users are now provided with the capability to export signing products, like transactions or PSBTs, to alternative media rather than the original source. For example, if a PSBT is received through a QR code, it can be signed and saved onto an SD card if needed.
• Multisig export files are signed now. Public keys are encoded as P2PKH address for all multisg signature exports. Learn more about it here.
• NFC export usability upgrade: NFC keeps exporting until CANCEL/X is pressed.
• Added Bitcoin Safe option to Export Wallet.
• 10% performance improvement in USB upload speed for large files.
• Q: Always choose the biggest possible display size for QR.

Fixes

• Do not allow change Main PIN to same value already used as Trick PIN, even if Trick PIN is hidden.
• Fix stuck progress bar under Receiving... after a USB communications failure.
• Showing derivation path in Address Explorer for root key (m) showed double slash (//).
• Can restore developer backup with custom password other than 12 words format.
• Virtual Disk auto mode ignores already signed PSBTs (with “-signed” in file name).
• Virtual Disk auto mode stuck on “Reading…” screen sometimes.
• Finalization of foreign inputs from partial signatures. Thanks Christian Uebber!
• Temporary seed from COLDCARD backup failed to load stored multisig wallets.
• Destroy Seed also removes all Trick PINs from SE2.
• Lock Down Seed requires pressing confirm key (4) to execute.
• Q only: Only BBQr is allowed to export Coldcard, Core, and pretty descriptor.

Blog Post / Archive
GitHub Repo
CCC Guide
Key Teleport site

@ 0c65eba8:4a08ef9a

1. A Personal Message to Fathers

This Father's Day, I want to speak directly to the kind of man who wants to be a Professional Father, someone who takes his role as a father seriously and views the raising of the next generation as a profession. You are looking for a way to make the time you have with your son count. To do something that matters.

I am recreating something that has been largely missing from our society for hundreds of years. Something that only a few fathers will have the opportunity to experience with me. It is a 9-month journey, online and in-person, that culminates in hiking the 170km Tour du Mont Blanc with your son and a group of other fathers and sons, including my own. But it is not just about the hike. The hike is the rite of passage, an intentional trial by nature and effort, that marks your son’s ascent into the next stage of manhood, forged alongside you.

I am inviting you to join me in reclaiming something that has been lost, fatherhood in its fullest form. Not just spectating at weekend sports or spending time on video games. Not just coaching a team or paying the bills. I am talking about what I call the Professional Father, the man who sees fatherhood as his most sacred office. His role as patriarch, protector, provider, and prophet for the next generation.

2. The Crisis of Modern Fatherhood

We live in a time when the role of the father has been eroded. The industrial world pulled men out of their homes. The school system put their children into the hands of strangers. The media mocked the masculine and glorified the weak. Now, instead of turning to their fathers, boys are looking to online influencers and cultural trends for guidance on what it means to be a man, and much of what they find is either performative, misleading, or harmful.

Why? Because we have lost the essential connection that once gave the father his authority: time together. Shared experience. Shared struggle. Demonstrated competence by the father. A father’s authority does not come from his title; it comes from his presence, his wisdom, his proven ability to guide his son through the very challenges he will one day face. When that authority is absent, boys search elsewhere. And they are rarely given better that Dad.

This crooked path is not sustainable. And it is not acceptable.

3. The Rite of Passage: A Father’s Return

I am blazing a trail back for fathers. I am walking it myself with my sons, leading the way through a process most have forgotten. And I am inviting a handful of serious men to walk it with me, not to invent it, but to inherit and embody it.

This is not for everyone. Most men will not do it, not because they do not care, but because the enormity of the task feels overwhelming. Because reclaiming the full weight of fatherhood feels too big, too distant, too much. But a few will. Because a few still believe that the family is the foundation of civilization. That fathers are the lawgivers of their household. Boys become men only through the deep intellectual, emotional, and spiritual connection they build with their fathers, and, at times, with other older male relatives. Only this kind of connection can prepare a boy to cross into manhood with strength, courage, mastery and honor.

If you are that kind of man, keep reading. Because I have built this for you and your sons.

4. What This Program Delivers

This is not another educational course or summer camp. This is a comprehensive transformation, what I call a conversion, of both father and son into their next stage of development.

Fathers will go from feeling disconnected and uncertain to becoming Professional Fathers: confident, competent, and fully engaged. They will rediscover their central role as patriarchs, not just providers. They will gain tools, language, and rituals to build a sovereign family culture. They will go from reacting to their child’s needs to proactively shaping their son’s future.

Sons will go from vague boyhood to clear, emerging manhood. From confusion about their place in the world to clarity and strength. From being passively raised to actively participating in their own coming-of-age. From drifting under the influence of media and school to grounding their identity in family and father.

Together, you will forge a new bond, something deeper than what is possible through casual time together. It will be built through shared intellectual growth, emotional development, physical training, and spiritual preparation. It culminates in the Tour du Mont Blanc: a physically demanding, awe-inspiring pilgrimage that seals the transformation with struggle, beauty, and brotherhood.

This is how you raise not just a son, but the father of your grandchildren.

And this is how you become a Meta-Father: not just a man who fathers children, but a man who re-establishes the father as the central force in family legacy and civilization.

If you want more than memories, if you want meaning, this is for you.

5. The Crisis of Masculinity and Maturity

We are living in a generation where boys are not becoming men. They are stalling, emotionally, socially, and morally, in extended adolescence. Without the structure of masculine expectation, clear transitions, or an acknowledged rite of passage, they linger in boyhood long after their bodies have matured.

Our culture offers them no roadmap. They are surrounded by mixed signals, infantilizing environments, and easy dopamine. What is missing is the challenge, the clarity, and the confrontation with reality that produces maturity. Boys need more than role models, they need mentors, trials, and the ceremonial crossing into responsibility.

This program provides that. It integrates emotional regulation, the pursuit of competence, and the internalization of sovereignty. It teaches boys not just how to act like men, but how to think, speak, and carry themselves with the dignity of masculine agency.

And it does this with their fathers at their side, not just as companions, but as guides who have reclaimed their own authority and are ready to lead the way.

6. What Boys Need, and What Fathers Can Provide

Boys today are not just lacking direction, they are starved for it. They need clarity, structure, love, and challenge. They need to know where the lines are and who they can count on to hold them. And more than anything, they need to know that their father sees them, knows their heart, and is willing to lead them.

A boy becomes a man in the presence of a stronger and more mature man, one who models agency, discipline, and calm strength. If the father is absent, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, another male influence will take that role, and it may not be one the family would choose. The son does not choose whether to model after someone; he only chooses from who is available.

That is why the father's role is not optional. He is the anchor of identity, the compass of moral and practical direction, and the living law of the household. His presence shapes the boy’s sense of reality. His strength determines how secure the boy feels in exploring the world. His love gives the boy the confidence to grow without fear.

This program helps fathers return to that role, not as tyrants, but as rightful leaders. Not as distant providers, but as fully engaged patriarchs whose words carry the weight of earned wisdom and demonstrated love.

Together, father and son will build a shared framework of communication, challenge, and clarity. This is what boys need. And this is what fathers can provide.

7. What Fathers Have Lost

You cannot lead a child where you have not gone.

Most fathers have been abandoned by culture, misled by education, and weakened by guilt. They were not taught how to be men, only how to please others (mostly women), suppress their instincts, and doubt their judgment. They entered fatherhood with no map, no compass, and no tribe. They try to lead without having first been led.

This is not your fault. But it is your responsibility to address it.

The journey of fatherhood begins with reclaiming what was lost, and becoming the kind of man your son can follow. That means reconnecting with your masculine virtues, your sovereign will, and your capacity to provide not just materially, but morally and spiritually.

This program does not just train your son. It restores you to your rightful place as the Professional Father, the one who leads the household not through dominance, but through earned reverence and trust.

It gives you the tools to reforge your own agency, rebuild your confidence, and return to your family with the strength and moral clarity they need from you.

8. The Rite of Passage Program: Structure and Purpose

The Father-Son Rite of Passage Program is a 9-month immersive journey designed for fathers who are ready to reclaim their role and initiate their sons into responsible, sovereign manhood. This is not theory. This is structured transformation, deliberate, demanding, and deeply rewarding.

Fathers will engage in regular one-on-one coaching, participate in biweekly group meetings with other men on the same path, and complete personal assignments tailored to their individual growth and family context. This ensures they not only gain insight but also act on it, building the habits, relationships, and clarity their sons need.

The program culminates in a 10–14 day pilgrimage: the Tour du Mont Blanc. This is not a vacation. It is a rite of passage in the truest sense, an ancient-style crucible through nature’s beauty and hardship. Alongside their sons and other fathers, participants will face real challenge, real danger, and real discovery.

This is where theory meets practice. Where inner work meets outer trial. Where the abstract idea of manhood becomes something a boy can feel in his bones. And where fathers, too, are reborn, not just as providers or protectors, but as full participants in the sacred calling of fatherhood.

This is how legacies are started.

9. Why This Program Is Different

This is not a retreat, and it is not a weekend camp. This is a commitment, a serious, structured, and sacred passage into the next phase of your family's legacy.

I am walking this path with you. My son will be there. We are not outsourcing masculinity to strangers. We are reclaiming it, shoulder to shoulder.

This is not about leisure tourism or temporary inspiration. It is about legacy building. It is for fathers who see themselves not just as parents, but as Professional Fathers, men who understand that raising the next generation is not a hobby, but a high discipline. A sacred responsibility. A generational duty.

You will be challenged. You will be changed. And you will come away with something no book, seminar, or online course can offer: real, embodied transformation with your son by your side.

10. What Fathers Will Gain

The authority and clarity you always knew you should have, but perhaps never had passed on to you. Most men were never given the torch of fatherhood by their own fathers. They were shown fragments, but not taught the full art. Without a model to inherit or a process to follow, confidence was elusive, and competence hard-won.

This program gives you both. You will gain confidence that commands respect, sovereignty over your household and your self, and the grounded presence that only mature masculinity provides. You will learn concrete tools and activities to build emotional connection with your son, not just through words, but through shared challenges, earned respect, and meaningful rituals. You will embody the Meta-Father: the living ideal your son will grow toward. And you will plant in him the seeds of that same Meta-Fatherhood, preparing him to one day lead your grandchildren with wisdom and strength.

11. What Sons Will Gain

Your son will emerge from this program with something priceless: direction, discipline, and purpose. He will begin to form a solid foundation of masculine identity, not as an act or an imitation, but as something rooted in his life experience.

He will experience challenge, beauty, and struggle beside you. This is how a boy becomes a man,by connecting to his father in mind, heart, and body. That connection forges a sense of belonging, purpose, and confidence that no screen, school, or self-help book can provide.

Your son will come away with a lasting bond to you, to his family, and to something greater than himself. He will learn to value sovereignty, agency, and responsibility not because they are preached, but because he will have lived them.

And most importantly, he will begin his journey to manhood with his father as his guide.

12. The Tour du Mont Blanc Experience

The majesty of Mont Blanc awaits you, an awe-inspiring realm of towering snow-capped peaks, wild alpine meadows, glacial rivers, and ancient footpaths carved into the heart of Europe. It is one of the most beautiful and storied landscapes on Earth. To walk through it is to walk through a living cathedral of stone, sky, and silence. This beauty is not a luxury; it is nourishment for the soul. It elevates us. It draws out our highest thoughts. It reminds us of the greatness that lies dormant within, and calls it forth.

Then, the challenge begins: 170km of mountainous terrain. 10,000m of elevation. Real physical exertion. Shared suffering and earned triumph.

This is not just a hike, it is a crucible. Every step across those alpine passes demands strength, endurance, and commitment. Every night spent together on the trail deepens the bond between father and son. Every vista inspires reflection. Every ache becomes part of the shared memory.

It is on this path that the teachings of the previous months come alive. Lessons turn into actions. Ideas become embodied truths.

There will be songs, yes, we will sing together. There will be rituals, markers of transition, oaths of honor, and gifts exchanged to seal the moment. There will be silence, too, sacred stillness in which the weight of this journey settles into the soul.

You and your son will not return the same. You will return closer. Clearer. Changed.

Not just with new memories, but with a new legacy.

13. Program Format and Curriculum

From October 2025 to June 2026, fathers and sons will embark on a progressive, integrated curriculum that deepens month by month.

Each month introduces a core theme, virtue, responsibility, communication, emotional regulation, sovereignty, and more. These themes shape the weekly assignments and personal exercises that keep growth consistent and measurable.

Every two weeks, fathers join live group calls for teaching, discussion, and accountability. These biweekly sessions offer a blend of structured learning, peer support, and personal coaching, ensuring that no man walks alone, and no challenge goes unanswered.

Rituals mark each stage: small family-based ceremonies, shared father-son activities, and group rites performed in solidarity with other families. Through these, responsibility is internalized, bonds are forged, and the father’s role is reestablished as central and sacred.

This is not passive learning. This is an active initiation into Professional Fatherhood, where theory is tested, practice is embodied, and transformation becomes visible.

14. Who This Program Is For, and Who It Is Not

This program is for fathers who are ready to lead, men who are committed to becoming the Professional Father their sons need. If you believe your role as a father is more than just showing up, if you see it as a sacred duty to guide, shape, and initiate your son into manhood, then this is for you.

It is not for the passive. Not for the indecisive. Not for men who want to outsource this task to schools, media, or fleeting moments. It is not for those who want a quick fix, a weekend workshop, or a feel-good event.

Only 10 father-son pairs will be accepted. This is an intimate, focused, and high-commitment program. Each man must be willing to walk the path fully, to be both student and teacher, both initiator and initiate.

This program is for those who can invest, not only in time and energy, but financially as well. If you are concerned primarily with the cost, this may not be the right time for you. But if you are ready to prioritize the future of your family, this will be the most valuable investment you make.

Some fathers may not be ready yet, and that is okay. For those men, I offer an alternative: my Agency Building Program. It is designed to help men reclaim sovereignty over their lives, develop discipline, and gain the clarity and competence needed to lead. Graduates of that program are often well-prepared to join future cohorts of this rite of passage.

And because my own sons, starting with the eldest this year, will be involved in the program alongside me, I must speak personally with each father before approving participation. This is not only to ensure alignment with the mission, but to protect the integrity of the group and the influence it will have on my children. This is a high-trust endeavor. I must know that the men who join us are ready in heart, mind, and deed.

If you believe that may be you, then I invite you to book a short call with me so we can explore it together:

https://calendly.com/noahrevoy/father-son-rite-of-passage-discovery-call

If you are ready, then I welcome you. If not, then honor that, but know this: your son’s future will reflect your choice.

15. Addressing Common Objections

"I’m too busy." → No man is too busy to raise a man. This program is structured to integrate into your life, not take it over. The time invested here pays dividends in every area of your family’s future.

"It’s expensive." → Nothing is more costly than failing your legacy. This is an investment in your son, your family, and your lineage. What could be more valuable than securing the man your boy becomes?

"What if I’m not ready?" → You become ready by stepping in. Most fathers were not taught how to lead. This program is how you learn, by doing, by walking the path with your son, and by reclaiming your own authority.

"What if my son is not interested or thinks it’s embarrassing?" → Boys often resist what they need most. This is why your leadership matters. When a father leads with conviction, clarity, and love, most sons rise to meet the moment. The shared challenge and beauty of this experience overcome hesitation, and by the end, he will not want it to stop following you.

"What if we are not close enough right now?" → That is exactly what this program is designed to change. Many fathers feel a painful distance from their sons. This journey closes that gap through structured time, real conversations, and shared trial. It is not about where you are now, it is about where you

"What if my wife does not agree?" → This is a father’s decision. While it is wise to seek harmony in the household, it is not your wife’s job to turn your son into a man, you were made for that. This program does not replace your role with hers. It restores yours. Leadership in the home, especially over the development of your son into a man, is a mantle only you can bear.

16. Meet Your Guide: Who I Am and Why I Lead

I am not a guru. I am a father, a Professional Father, who lives what he teaches. I have been married for nearly 24 years and have three sons who, by the time we hike Mont Blanc, will be 12, 6, and 6 years old. My background is in sovereignty, psychology, history, and legacy. I have spent over a decade helping men and women develop stronger relationships with themselves and others, and before that, I served as a minister doing similar work. For most of my adult life, I have studied and applied the principles that build strong families, enduring legacies, and cooperative civilizations.

I bring a unique perspective: my family has recorded its relationship practices for over 450 years, practical, time-tested tools for marriage, parenting, and legacy building. I am also a senior fellow at the Natural Law Institute, a think tank dedicated to understanding the laws of nature and reality that govern human cooperation, from the household to civilization.

I am doing this not because I have mastered fatherhood, but because I am mastering it. My oldest son will walk this path with me this year, and my younger sons will follow in future years. I am building this alongside you. I am walking it with you. I am opening the way, not from ahead or above, but from beside you.

This is deeply personal. I know what is at stake. I know what it is like to want more for your son and to feel like no one ever showed you how. That is why I created this. Because if we do not do it, no one else will. And because there is no more sacred role than to lead your son into manhood by becoming the man you were meant to be.

Join me.

17. Your Invitation to Take the Next Step

No obligation. Just a conversation. This is not for everyone, but it may be for you. If what you have read resonates with your heart and stirs your spirit, I invite you to take the next step.

Click below to book a short discovery call with me. We will discuss your goals, your son’s needs, and whether this program is the right fit.

https://calendly.com/noahrevoy/father-son-rite-of-passage-discovery-call

We do not have time to waste, and neither do our sons.

18. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much does it cost? Because each father-son pair is unique and I need to understand your situation and goals, we do not discuss price until we have had a short call. You will, however, be responsible for your own flights to and from Europe. Everything else, from lodging and trail logistics to food and materials, is included in the program fee.

Is this climbing Mont Blanc? No, this is not a mountain climbing expedition. We will hike the Tour du Mont Blanc, a well-established, multi-day trekking circuit around the Mont Blanc massif. It is challenging, beautiful, and safe for determined beginners with reasonable fitness. No technical climbing is involved.

What if I am not in good shape? The hiking portion is demanding, but not extreme. You will have several months to prepare, and the program includes structured guidance on developing the physical readiness needed for success. Our aim is to help both you and your son build the stamina, strength, and resilience required, not just to complete the route, but to grow from it. Many ordinary men and boys complete this trail each year. You will not be alone. We will prepare together, step by step, so that by the time we set foot on the trail, you are ready in body as well as in spirit.

Is there spiritual or religious content? The program is deeply meaningful and touches on spiritual development, but it is not religious. It is compatible with a variety of beliefs and focuses on universal principles of virtue, sovereignty, and legacy. As part of the identity-building process, fathers will be encouraged to define what spirituality means within their family and to guide their sons in understanding and embodying that spiritual vision. This process honors your role as the spiritual head of your family and leaves room for diversity in expression, rooted in the shared pursuit of meaning and legacy.

What if my schedule is unpredictable? We designed the program to fit within a professional father’s life. Weekly tasks are manageable, and calls are recorded. You will have flexibility, and accountability.

What age should my son be? The ideal age range is 11–14. Old enough to rise to the challenge. Young enough to still be impressionable. If your son is slightly outside this range, we can discuss suitability during your call.

What if I have multiple sons? If you have more than one son within this age range, you are welcome to bring them all. The program is designed to accommodate multiple sons, allowing each of them to experience this rite of passage alongside their father and one another. Each will go through the full process as an individual participant, while also benefiting from the presence and camaraderie of their siblings. This creates an even deeper family legacy and strengthens bonds between brothers as well as between father and sons.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

The new website is finally live! I put in a lot of hard work over the past months on it. I'm proud to say that it's out now and it looks pretty cool, at least to me!

Why rewrite it all?

The old kycnot.me site was built using Python with Flask about two years ago. Since then, I've gained a lot more experience with Golang and coding in general. Trying to update that old codebase, which had a lot of design flaws, would have been a bad idea. It would have been like building on an unstable foundation.

That's why I made the decision to rewrite the entire application. Initially, I chose to use SvelteKit with JavaScript. I did manage to create a stable site that looked similar to the new one, but it required Jav aScript to work. As I kept coding, I started feeling like I was repeating "the Python mistake". I was writing the app in a language I wasn't very familiar with (just like when I was learning Python at that mom ent), and I wasn't happy with the code. It felt like spaghetti code all the time.

So, I made a complete U-turn and started over, this time using Golang. While I'm not as proficient in Golang as I am in Python now, I find it to be a very enjoyable language to code with. Most aof my recent pr ojects have been written in Golang, and I'm getting the hang of it. I tried to make the best decisions I could and structure the code as well as possible. Of course, there's still room for improvement, which I'll address in future updates.

Now I have a more maintainable website that can scale much better. It uses a real database instead of a JSON file like the old site, and I can add many more features. Since I chose to go with Golang, I mad e the "tradeoff" of not using JavaScript at all, so all the rendering load falls on the server. But I believe it's a tradeoff that's worth it.

What's new

• UI/UX - I've designed a new logo and color palette for kycnot.me. I think it looks pretty cool and cypherpunk. I am not a graphic designer, but I think I did a decent work and I put a lot of thinking on it to make it pleasant!
• Point system - The new point system provides more detailed information about the listings, and can be expanded to cover additional features across all services. Anyone can request a new point!
• ToS Scrapper: I've implemented a powerful automated terms-of-service scrapper that collects all the ToS pages from the listings. It saves you from the hassle of reading the ToS by listing the lines that are suspiciously related to KYC/AML practices. This is still in development and it will improve for sure, but it works pretty fine right now!
• Search bar - The new search bar allows you to easily filter services. It performs a full-text search on the Title, Description, Category, and Tags of all the services. Looking for VPN services? Just search for "vpn"!
• Transparency - To be more transparent, all discussions about services now take place publicly on GitLab. I won't be answering any e-mails (an auto-reply will prompt to write to the corresponding Gitlab issue). This ensures that all service-related matters are publicly accessible and recorded. Additionally, there's a real-time audits page that displays database changes.
• Listing Requests - I have upgraded the request system. The new form allows you to directly request services or points without any extra steps. In the future, I plan to enable requests for specific changes to parts of the website.
• Lightweight and fast - The new site is lighter and faster than its predecessor!
• Tor and I2P - At last! kycnot.me is now officially on Tor and I2P!

How?

This rewrite has been a labor of love, in the end, I've been working on this for more than 3 months now. I don't have a team, so I work by myself on my free time, but I find great joy in helping people on their private journey with cryptocurrencies. Making it easier for individuals to use cryptocurrencies without KYC is a goal I am proud of!

If you appreciate my work, you can support me through the methods listed here. Alternatively, feel free to send me an email with a kind message!

Technical details

All the code is written in Golang, the website makes use of the chi router for the routing part. I also make use of BigCache for caching database requests. There is 0 JavaScript, so all the rendering load falls on the server, this means it needed to be efficient enough to not drawn with a few users since the old site was reporting about 2M requests per month on average (note that this are not unique users).

The database is running with mariadb, using gorm as the ORM. This is more than enough for this project. I started working with an sqlite database, but I ended up migrating to mariadb since it works better with JSON.

The scraper is using chromedp combined with a series of keywords, regex and other logic. It runs every 24h and scraps all the services. You can find the scraper code here.

The frontend is written using Golang Templates for the HTML, and TailwindCSS plus DaisyUI for the CSS classes framework. I also use some plain CSS, but it's minimal.

The requests forms is the only part of the project that requires JavaScript to be enabled. It is needed for parsing some from fields that are a bit complex and for the "captcha", which is a simple Proof of Work that runs on your browser, destinated to avoid spam. For this, I use mCaptcha.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

• RoboSats v0.7.7-alpha is now available!

NOTE: "This version of clients is not compatible with older versions of coordinators. Coordinators must upgrade first, make sure you don't upgrade your client while this is marked as pre-release."

• This version brings a new and improved coordinators view with reviews signed both by the robot and the coordinator, adds market price sources in coordinator profiles, shows a correct warning for canceling non-taken orders after a payment attempt, adds Uzbek sum currency, and includes package library updates for coordinators.

Source: RoboSats.

• siggy47 is writing daily RoboSats activity reviews on stacker.news. Check them out here.
• Stay up-to-date with RoboSats on Nostr.

What's new

• New coordinators view (see the picture above).
• Available coordinator reviews signed by both the robot and the coordinator.
• Coordinators now display market price sources in their profiles.

Source: RoboSats.

• Fix for wrong message on cancel button when taking an order. Users are now warned if they try to cancel a non taken order after a payment attempt.
• Uzbek sum currency now available.
• For coordinators: library updates.
• Add docker frontend (#1861).
• Add order review token (#1869).
• Add UZS migration (#1875).
• Fixed tests review (#1878).
• Nostr pubkey for Robot (#1887).

New contributors

• @hexlorn made their first contribution in #1858.
• @umk0m1qk made their first contribution in #1864.

Full Changelog: v0.7.6-alpha...v0.7.7-alpha

GitHub Repo

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

In a move that diverges from many other U.S. states, Connecticut has passed a new law that bars state and local governments from investing in bitcoin or any other digital currency.

The bill, HB7082, passed unanimously in both the House and Senate with zero opposing votes.

The law, officially titled “An Act Concerning the Regulation of Virtual Currency and State Investments,” was signed into law recently and is causing a stir in the Bitcoin and financial communities.

HB7082 prohibits the state of Connecticut and its political subdivisions from accepting, holding or investing in digital currencies. This includes bitcoin, ethereum and other digital assets. It also bars the state from creating a bitcoin reserve, a concept being explored by other states.

The law goes further by imposing strict rules on digital asset businesses operating in the state. These rules enforce anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and parental consent verification for digital asset users under 18.

It also requires 1:1 reserve requirements for bitcoin custodians.

Businesses that handle Bitcoin transactions must now provide users with clear information about risks and fees and provide receipts with full transaction details.

No business can let a minor use a money-sharing app without first getting proof of consent from a parent or guardian.

Lawmakers in Connecticut say it’s about protecting public funds and minimizing financial risk. They say Connecticut’s new law bars state investments in bitcoin to protect its financial assets from market risk.

Supporters argue that the high volatility of bitcoin makes it a risky investment for public money like pension funds and state reserves.

The law also looks to bring bitcoin businesses under tighter control, to make them follow the same rules as the traditional financial system.

While Connecticut is cracking down on digital assets, other states are going the other way.

States like Texas, New Hampshire and Arizona have already passed laws or proposed bills to create a bitcoin reserve, which allows public funds to be invested in bitcoin.

Texas has even described bitcoin as a “forward-thinking investment opportunity” and a long-term store of value.

The new law has caused mixed reactions in the financial world. Some think it’s too cautious, others think it’s part of a bigger plan.

Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise, responded with sarcasm, “The hedge fund managers got so upset they couldn’t beat Bitcoin…”

Matt Hougan on X

Some states like Florida, South Dakota and Oklahoma have either killed or vetoed Bitcoin bills this year. Others like Louisiana are still exploring the tech. Louisiana just announced it would create a special committee to study AI, blockchain and digital assets.

@ a19caaa8:88985eaf

↓ジャック（twitter創業者）のツイート　 nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpq35r7yzkm4te5460u00jz4djcw0qa90zku7739qn7wj4ralhe4zqy28wumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hsqg9cdxf7s7kg8kj70a4v5j94urz8kmel03d5a47tr4v6lx9umu3c95072732　

↓それに絡むたゃ　 nostr:note1hr4m0d2k2cvv0yg5xtmpuma0hsxfpgcs2lxe7vlyhz30mfq8hf8qp8xmau　

↓たゃのひとりごと　 nostr:nevent1qqsdt9p9un2lhsa8n27y7gnr640qdjl5n2sg0dh4kmxpqget9qsufngsvfsln　 nostr:note14p9prp46utd3j6mpqwv46m3r7u7cz6tah2v7tffjgledg5m4uy9qzfc2zf　

↓有識者様の助言　 nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpujqe8p9zrpuv0f4ykk3rmgnqa6p6r0lan0t8ewd0ksj89kqcz5xqqst8w0773wxnkl8sn94tvmd3razcvms0kxjwe00rvgazp9ljjlv0wq0krtvt　 nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpujqe8p9zrpuv0f4ykk3rmgnqa6p6r0lan0t8ewd0ksj89kqcz5xqqsxchzm7s7vn8a82q40yss3a84583chvd9szl9qc3w5ud7pr9ugengcgt9qx　

↓たゃ　 nostr:nevent1qqsp2rxvpax6ks45tuzhzlq94hq6qtm47w69z8p5wepgq9u4txaw88s554jkd

@ f11e91c5:59a0b04a

!!!2022-07-07に書かれた記事です。

暗号通貨とかでお弁当売ってます 11:30〜14:00ぐらいでやってます

◆住所 木曜日・東京都渋谷区宇田川町41 （アベマタワーの下らへん）

◆お値段

Monacoin 3.9mona

Bitzeny 390zny

Bitcoin 3900sats (#lightningNetwork)

Ethereum 0.0039Ether(#zkSync)

39=thank you. （円を基準にしてません）

最近は週に一回になりました。 他の日はキッチンカーの現場を探したり色々してます。 東京都内で平日ランチ出店出来そうな場所があればぜひご連絡を！

写真はNFCタグです。 スマホにウォレットがあればタッチして3900satsで決済出来ます。 正直こんな怪しい手書きのNFCタグなんて絶対にビットコイナーは触りたくも無いだろうなと思いますが、これでも良いんだぜというメッセージです。

今までbtcpayのposでしたが速度を追求してこれに変更しました。 たまに上手くいかないですがそしたら渋々POS出すので温かい目でよろしくお願いします。

ノードを建てたり決済したりで1年経ちました。 最近も少しずつノードを建てる方が増えてるみたいで本当凄いですねUmbrel 大体の人がルーティングに果敢に挑むのを見つつ 奥さんに土下座しながら費用を捻出する弱小の私は決済の利便性を全開で振り切るしか無いので応援よろしくお願いします。

あえて あえて言うのであれば、ルーティングも楽しいですけど やはり本当の意味での即時決済や相手を選んでチャネルを繋げる楽しさもあるよとお伝えしたいっ！！ 決済を受け入れないと分からない所ですが 承認がいらない時点で画期的です。

QRでもタッチでも金額指定でも入力でも もうやりようには出来てしまうし進化が恐ろしく早いので1番利用の多いpaypayの手数料（事業者側のね）を考えたらビットコイン凄いじゃない！と叫びたくなる。 が、やはり税制面や価格の変動（うちはBTC固定だけども）ウォレットの操作や普及率を考えるとまぁ難しい所もあるんですかね。

それでも継続的に沢山の人が色んな活動をしてるので私も何か出来ることがあれば 今後も奥さんに土下座しながら頑張って行きたいと思います。

(Originally posted 2022-07-07)

I sell bento lunches for cryptocurrency. We’re open roughly 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Address Thursdays – 41 Udagawa-chō, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (around the base of Abema Tower)

Prices Coin Price Note Monacoin 3.9 MONA
Bitzeny 390 ZNY Bitcoin 3,900 sats (Lightning Network)
Ethereum 0.0039 ETH (zkSync) “39” sounds like “thank you” in Japanese. Prices aren’t pegged to yen.

These days I’m open only once a week. On other days I’m out scouting new spots for the kitchen-car. If you know weekday-lunch locations inside Tokyo where I could set up, please let me know!

The photo shows an NFC tag. If your phone has a Lightning wallet, just tap and pay 3,900 sats. I admit this hand-written NFC tag looks shady—any self-respecting Bitcoiner probably wouldn’t want to tap it—but the point is: even this works!

I used to run a BTCPay POS, but I switched to this setup for speed. Sometimes the tap payment fails; if that happens I reluctantly pull out the old POS. Thanks for your patience.

It’s been one year since I spun up a node and started accepting Lightning payments. So many people are now running their own nodes—Umbrel really is amazing. While the big players bravely chase routing fees, I’m a tiny operator scraping together funds while begging my wife for forgiveness, so I’m all-in on maximising payment convenience. Your support means a lot!

If I may add: routing is fun, but instant, trust-minimised payments and the thrill of choosing whom to open channels with are just as exciting. You’ll only understand once you start accepting payments yourself—zero-confirmation settlement really is revolutionary.

QR codes, NFC taps, fixed amounts, manual entry… the possibilities keep multiplying, and the pace of innovation is scary fast. When I compare it to the merchant fees on Japan’s most-used service, PayPay, I want to shout: “Bitcoin is incredible!” Sure, taxes, price volatility (my shop is BTC-denominated, though), wallet UX, and adoption hurdles are still pain points.

Even so, lots of people keep building cool stuff, so I’ll keep doing what I can—still on my knees to my wife, but moving forward!

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

• Version 1.3 of Bitcoin Safe introduces a redesigned interactive chart, quick receive feature, updated icons, a mempool preview window, support for Child Pays For Parent (CPFP) and testnet4, preconfigured testnet demo wallets, as well as various bug fixes and improvements.

• Upcoming updates for Bitcoin Safe include Compact Block Filters.

"Compact Block Filters increase the network privacy dramatically, since you're not asking an electrum server to give you your transactions. They are a little slower than electrum servers. For a savings wallet like Bitcoin Safe this should be OK," writes the project's developer Andreas Griffin.

• Learn more about the current and upcoming features of Bitcoin Safe wallet here.

What's new in v1.3

• Redesign of Chart, Quick Receive, Icons, and Mempool Preview (by @design-rrr).
• Interactive chart. Clicking on it now jumps to transaction, and selected transactions are now highlighted.

• Speed up transactions with Child Pays For Parent (CPFP).
• BDK 1.2 (upgraded from 0.32).
• Testnet4 support.
• Preconfigured Testnet demo wallets.
• Cluster unconfirmed transactions so that parents/children are next to each other.
• Customizable columns for all tables (optional view: Txid, Address index, and more)
• Bug fixes and other improvements.

Announcement / Archive
Blog Post / Archive
GitHub Repo
Website

@ ec42c765:328c0600

test

test

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

• This version introduces the Soroban P2P network, enabling Dojo to relay transactions to the Bitcoin network and share others' transactions to break the heuristic linking relaying nodes to transaction creators.

• Additionally, Dojo admins can now manage API keys in DMT with labels, status, and expiration, ideal for community Dojo providers like Dojobay. New API endpoints, including "/services" exposing Explorer, Soroban, and Indexer, have been added to aid wallet developers.
• Other maintenance updates include Bitcoin Core, Tor, Fulcrum, Node.js, plus an updated ban-knots script to disconnect inbound Knots nodes.

"I want to thank all the contributors. This again shows the power of true Free Software. I also want to thank everyone who donated to help Dojo development going. I truly appreciate it," said Still Dojo Coder.

What's new

• Soroban P2P network. For MyDojo (Docker setup) users, Soroban will be automatically installed as part of their Dojo. This integration allows Dojo to utilize the Soroban P2P network for various upcoming features and applications.
• PandoTx. PandoTx serves as a transaction transport layer. When your wallet sends a transaction to Dojo, it is relayed to a random Soroban node, which then forwards it to the Bitcoin network. It also enables your Soroban node to receive and relay transactions from others to the Bitcoin network and is designed to disrupt the assumption that a node relaying a transaction is closely linked to the person who initiated it.
  • Pushing transactions through Soroban can be deactivated by setting NODE_PANDOTX_PUSH=off in docker-node.conf.
  • Processing incoming transactions from Soroban network can be deactivated by setting NODE_PANDOTX_PROCESS=off in docker-node.conf.
• API key management has been introduced to address the growing number of people offering their Dojos to the community. Dojo admins can now access a new API management tab in their DMT, where they can create unlimited API keys, assign labels for easy identification, and set expiration dates for each key. This allows admins to avoid sharing their main API key and instead distribute specific keys to selected parties.
• New API endpoints. Several new API endpoints have been added to help API consumers develop features on Dojo more efficiently:
  • New:
    • /latest-block - returns data about latest block
    • /txout/:txid/:index - returns unspent output data
    • /support/services - returns info about services that Dojo exposes
  • Updated:
    • /tx/:txid - endpoint has been updated to return raw transaction with parameter ?rawHex=1
  • The new /support/services endpoint replaces the deprecated explorer field in the Dojo pairing payload. Although still present, API consumers should use this endpoint for explorer and other pairing data.

Other changes

• Updated ban script to disconnect inbound Knots nodes.
• Updated Fulcrum to v1.12.0.
• Regenerate Fulcrum certificate if expired.
• Check if transaction already exists in pushTx.
• Bump BTC-RPC Explorer.
• Bump Tor to v0.4.8.16, bump Snowflake.
• Updated Bitcoin Core to v29.0.
• Removed unnecessary middleware.
• Fixed DB update mechanism, added api_keys table.
• Add an option to use blocksdir config for bitcoin blocks directory.
• Removed deprecated configuration.
• Updated Node.js dependencies.
• Reconfigured container dependencies.
• Fix Snowflake git URL.
• Fix log path for testnet4.
• Use prebuilt addrindexrs binaries.
• Add instructions to migrate blockchain/fulcrum.
• Added pull policies.

#FREESAMOURAI

Learn how to set up and use your own Bitcoin privacy node with Dojo here.

Announcement / Archive
GitHub Repo

@ ec42c765:328c0600

test

@ ec42c765:328c0600

カスタム絵文字とは

任意のオリジナル画像を絵文字のように文中に挿入できる機能です。
また、リアクション（Twitterの いいね のような機能）にもカスタム絵文字を使えます。

カスタム絵文字の対応状況（2025/02/06）

カスタム絵文字を使うためにはカスタム絵文字に対応したクライアントを使う必要があります。

※表は一例です。クライアントは他にもたくさんあります。

使っているクライアントが対応していない場合は、クライアントを変更する、対応するまで待つ、開発者に要望を送る（または自分で実装する）などしましょう。

対応クライアント

• Amethyst
• FreeFrom
• nostter
• Rabbit
• Lumilumi
• Nos Haiku
• Snort
• noStrudel

ここではnostterを使って説明していきます。

準備

カスタム絵文字を使うための準備です。

• Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）を導入する
• 使いたいカスタム絵文字をリストに登録する

Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）を導入する

Nostrエクステンションは使いたいカスタム絵文字を登録する時に必要になります。

また、環境（パソコン、iPhone、androidなど）によって導入方法が違います。

Nostrエクステンションを導入する端末は、実際にNostrを閲覧する端末と違っても構いません（リスト登録はPC、Nostr閲覧はiPhoneなど）。

Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）の導入方法は以下のページを参照してください。

ログイン拡張機能 (NIP-07)を使ってみよう | Welcome to Nostr! ～ Nostrをはじめよう！ ～

少し面倒ですが、これを導入しておくとNostr上の様々な場面で役立つのでより快適になります。

使いたいカスタム絵文字をリストに登録する

以下のサイトで行います。

emojito

右上のGet startedからNostrエクステンションでログインしてください。

例として以下のカスタム絵文字を導入してみます。

実際より絵文字が少なく表示されることがありますが、古い状態のデータを取得してしまっているためです。その場合はブラウザの更新ボタンを押してください。

generalJP | カスタム絵文字

• 右側のOptionsからBookmarkを選択

これでカスタム絵文字を使用するためのリストに登録できます。

カスタム絵文字を使用する

例としてブラウザから使えるクライアント nostter から使用してみます。

nostter

nostterにNostrエクステンションでログイン、もしくは秘密鍵を入れてログインしてください。

文章中に使用

1. 投稿ボタンを押して投稿ウィンドウを表示
2. 顔😀のボタンを押し、絵文字ウィンドウを表示
3. ＊タブを押し、カスタム絵文字一覧を表示
4. カスタム絵文字を選択
5. : 記号に挟まれたアルファベットのショートコードとして挿入される

この状態で投稿するとカスタム絵文字として表示されます。

カスタム絵文字対応クライアントを使っている他ユーザーにもカスタム絵文字として表示されます。

対応していないクライアントの場合、ショートコードのまま表示されます。

ショートコードを直接入力することでカスタム絵文字の候補が表示されるのでそこから選択することもできます。

リアクションに使用

1. 任意の投稿の顔😀のボタンを押し、絵文字ウィンドウを表示
2. ＊タブを押し、カスタム絵文字一覧を表示
3. カスタム絵文字を選択

カスタム絵文字リアクションを送ることができます。

カスタム絵文字を探す

先述したemojitoからカスタム絵文字を探せます。

例えば任意のユーザーのページ emojito ロクヨウ から探したり、 emojito Browse all からnostr全体で最近作成、更新された絵文字を見たりできます。

また、以下のリンクは日本語圏ユーザーが作ったカスタム絵文字を集めたリストです（2025/02/06）

※漏れがあるかもしれません

日本ユーザー作 カスタム絵文字

各絵文字セットにあるOpen in emojitoのリンクからemojitoに飛び、使用リストに追加できます。

---

以上です。

次：Nostrのカスタム絵文字の作り方

Yakihonneリンク Nostrのカスタム絵文字の作り方

Nostrリンク nostr:naddr1qqxnzdesxuunzv358ycrgveeqgswcsk8v4qck0deepdtluag3a9rh0jh2d0wh0w9g53qg8a9x2xqvqqrqsqqqa28r5psx3

---

仕様

NIP-30 Custom Emoji

NIP-30 カスタム絵文字（和訳）

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

Know Your Customer is a regulation that requires companies of all sizes to verify the identity, suitability, and risks involved with maintaining a business relationship with a customer. Such procedures fit within the broader scope of anti-money laundering (AML) and counterterrorism financing (CTF) regulations.

Banks, exchanges, online business, mail providers, domain registrars... Everyone wants to know who you are before you can even opt for their service. Your personal information is flowing around the internet in the hands of "god-knows-who" and secured by "trust-me-bro military-grade encryption". Once your account is linked to your personal (and verified) identity, tracking you is just as easy as keeping logs on all these platforms.

Rights for Illusions

KYC processes aim to combat terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit activities. On the surface, KYC seems like a commendable initiative. I mean, who wouldn't want to halt terrorists and criminals in their tracks?

The logic behind KYC is: "If we mandate every financial service provider to identify their users, it becomes easier to pinpoint and apprehend the malicious actors."

However, terrorists and criminals are not precisely lining up to be identified. They're crafty. They may adopt false identities or find alternative strategies to continue their operations. Far from being outwitted, many times they're several steps ahead of regulations. Realistically, KYC might deter a small fraction – let's say about 1% ^1 – of these malefactors. Yet, the cost? All of us are saddled with the inconvenient process of identification just to use a service.

Under the rhetoric of "ensuring our safety", governments and institutions enact regulations that seem more out of a dystopian novel, gradually taking away our right to privacy.

To illustrate, consider a city where the mayor has rolled out facial recognition cameras in every nook and cranny. A band of criminals, intent on robbing a local store, rolls in with a stolen car, their faces obscured by masks and their bodies cloaked in all-black clothes. Once they've committed the crime and exited the city's boundaries, they switch vehicles and clothes out of the cameras' watchful eyes. The high-tech surveillance? It didn’t manage to identify or trace them. Yet, for every law-abiding citizen who merely wants to drive through the city or do some shopping, their movements and identities are constantly logged. The irony? This invasive tracking impacts all of us, just to catch the 1% ^1 of less-than-careful criminals.

KYC? Not you.

KYC creates barriers to participation in normal economic activity, to supposedly stop criminals. ^2

KYC puts barriers between many users and businesses. One of these comes from the fact that the process often requires multiple forms of identification, proof of address, and sometimes even financial records. For individuals in areas with poor record-keeping, non-recognized legal documents, or those who are unbanked, homeless or transient, obtaining these documents can be challenging, if not impossible.

For people who are not skilled with technology or just don't have access to it, there's also a barrier since KYC procedures are mostly online, leaving them inadvertently excluded.

Another barrier goes for the casual or one-time user, where they might not see the value in undergoing a rigorous KYC process, and these requirements can deter them from using the service altogether.

It also wipes some businesses out of the equation, since for smaller businesses, the costs associated with complying with KYC norms—from the actual process of gathering and submitting documents to potential delays in operations—can be prohibitive in economical and/or technical terms.

You're not welcome

Imagine a swanky new club in town with a strict "members only" sign. You hear the music, you see the lights, and you want in. You step up, ready to join, but suddenly there's a long list of criteria you must meet. After some time, you are finally checking all the boxes. But then the club rejects your membership with no clear reason why. You just weren't accepted. Frustrating, right?

This club scenario isn't too different from the fact that KYC is being used by many businesses as a convenient gatekeeping tool. A perfect excuse based on a "legal" procedure they are obliged to.

Even some exchanges may randomly use this to freeze and block funds from users, claiming these were "flagged" by a cryptic system that inspects the transactions. You are left hostage to their arbitrary decision to let you successfully pass the KYC procedure. If you choose to sidestep their invasive process, they might just hold onto your funds indefinitely.

Your identity has been stolen

KYC data has been found to be for sale on many dark net markets^3. Exchanges may have leaks or hacks, and such leaks contain very sensitive data. We're talking about the full monty: passport or ID scans, proof of address, and even those awkward selfies where you're holding up your ID next to your face. All this data is being left to the mercy of the (mostly) "trust-me-bro" security systems of such companies. Quite scary, isn't it?

As cheap as $10 for 100 documents, with discounts applying for those who buy in bulk, the personal identities of innocent users who passed KYC procedures are for sale. ^3

In short, if you have ever passed the KYC/AML process of a crypto exchange, your privacy is at risk of being compromised, or it might even have already been compromised.

(they) Know Your Coins

You may already know that Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies have a transparent public blockchain, meaning that all data is shown unencrypted for everyone to see and recorded forever. If you link an address you own to your identity through KYC, for example, by sending an amount from a KYC exchange to it, your Bitcoin is no longer pseudonymous and can then be traced.

If, for instance, you send Bitcoin from such an identified address to another KYC'ed address (say, from a friend), everyone having access to that address-identity link information (exchanges, governments, hackers, etc.) will be able to associate that transaction and know who you are transacting with.

Conclusions

To sum up, KYC does not protect individuals; rather, it's a threat to our privacy, freedom, security and integrity. Sensible information flowing through the internet is thrown into chaos by dubious security measures. It puts borders between many potential customers and businesses, and it helps governments and companies track innocent users. That's the chaos KYC has stirred.

The criminals are using stolen identities from companies that gathered them thanks to these very same regulations that were supposed to combat them. Criminals always know how to circumvent such regulations. In the end, normal people are the most affected by these policies.

The threat that KYC poses to individuals in terms of privacy, security and freedom is not to be neglected. And if we don’t start challenging these systems and questioning their efficacy, we are just one step closer to the dystopian future that is now foreseeable.

Edited 20/03/2024 * Add reference to the 1% statement on Rights for Illusions section to an article where Chainalysis found that only 0.34% of the transaction volume with cryptocurrencies in 2023 was attributable to criminal activity ^1

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

Over the past few months, I've dedicated my time to a complete rewrite of the kycnot.me website. The technology stack remains unchanged; Golang paired with TailwindCSS. However, I've made some design choices in this iteration that I believe significantly enhance the site. Particularly to backend code.

UI Improvements

You'll notice a refreshed UI that retains the original concept but has some notable enhancements. The service list view is now more visually engaging, it displays additional information in a more aesthetically pleasing manner. Both filtering and searching functionalities have been optimized for speed and user experience.

Service pages have been also redesigned to highlight key information at the top, with the KYC Level box always accessible. The display of service attributes is now more visually intuitive.

The request form, especially the Captcha, has undergone substantial improvements. The new self-made Captcha is robust, addressing the reliability issues encountered with the previous version.

Terms of Service Summarizer

A significant upgrade is the Terms of Service summarizer/reviewer, now powered by AI (GPT-4-turbo). It efficiently condenses each service's ToS, extracting and presenting critical points, including any warnings. Summaries are updated monthly, processing over 40 ToS pages via the OpenAI API using a self-crafted and thoroughly tested prompt.

Nostr Comments

I've integrated a comment section for each service using Nostr. For guidance on using this feature, visit the dedicated how-to page.

Database

The backend database has transitioned to pocketbase, an open-source Golang backend that has been a pleasure to work with. I maintain an updated fork of the Golang SDK for pocketbase at pluja/pocketbase.

Scoring

The scoring algorithm has also been refined to be more fair. Despite I had considered its removal due to the complexity it adds (it is very difficult to design a fair scoring system), some users highlighted its value, so I kept it. The updated algorithm is available open source.

Listings

Each listing has been re-evaluated, and the ones that were no longer operational were removed. New additions are included, and the backlog of pending services will be addressed progressively, since I still have access to the old database.

API

The API now offers more comprehensive data. For more details, check here.

About Page

The About page has been restructured for brevity and clarity.

Other Changes

Extensive changes have been implemented in the server-side logic, since the whole code base was re-written from the ground up. I may discuss these in a future post, but for now, I consider the current version to be just a bit beyond beta, and additional updates are planned in the coming weeks.

@ ec42c765:328c0600

てすと

nostr:nevent1qqst3uqlls4yr9vys4dza2sgjle3ly37trck7jgdmtr23uuz52usjrqqqnjgr

nostr:nevent1qqsdvchy5d27zt3z05rr3q6vvmzgslslxwu0p4dfkvxwhmvxldn9djguvagp2

test

てｓ

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

This update brings key enhancements for clarity and usability:

• Recent Blocks View: Added to the Send tab and inspired by Mempool's visualization, it displays the last 2 blocks and the estimated next block to help choose fee rates.
• Camera System Overhaul: Features a new library for higher resolution detection and mouse-scroll zoom support when available.
• Vector-Based Images: All app images are now vectorized and theme-aware, enhancing contrast, especially in dark mode.
• Tor & P2A Updates: Upgraded internal Tor and improved support for pay-to-anchor (P2A) outputs.
• Linux Package Rename: For Linux users, Sparrow has been renamed to sparrowwallet (or sparrowserver); in some cases, the original sparrow package may need manual removal.
• Additional updates include showing total payments in multi-payment transaction diagrams, better handling of long labels, and other UI enhancements.

• Sparrow v2.2.1 is a bug fix release that addresses missing UUID issue when starting Tor on recent macOS versions, icons for external sources in Settings and Recent Blocks view, repackaged .deb installs to use older gzip instead of zstd compression, and removed display of median fee rate where fee rates source is set to Server.

Learn how to get started with Sparrow wallet:

Release notes (v2.2.0)

• Added Recent Blocks view to Send tab.
• Converted all bitmapped images to theme aware SVG format for all wallet models and dialogs.
• Support send and display of pay to anchor (P2A) outputs.
• Renamed sparrow package to sparrowwallet and sparrowserver on Linux.
• Switched camera library to openpnp-capture.
• Support FHD (1920 x 1080) and UHD4k (3840 x 2160) capture resolutions.
• Support camera zoom with mouse scroll where possible.
• In the Download Verifier, prefer verifying the dropped file over the default file where the file is not in the manifest.
• Show a warning (with an option to disable the check) when importing a wallet with a derivation path matching another script type.
• In Cormorant, avoid calling the listwalletdir RPC on initialization due to a potentially slow response on Windows.
• Avoid server address resolution for public servers.
• Assume server address is non local for resolution failures where a proxy is configured.
• Added a tooltip to indicate truncated labels in table cells.
• Dynamically truncate input and output labels in the tree on a transaction tab, and add tooltips if necessary.
• Improved tooltips for wallet tabs and transaction diagrams with long labels.
• Show the address where available on input and output tooltips in transaction tab tree.
• Show the total amount sent in payments in the transaction diagram when constructing multiple payment transactions.
• Reset preferred table column widths on adjustment to improve handling after window resizing.
• Added accessible text to improve screen reader navigation on seed entry.
• Made Wallet Summary table grow horizontally with dialog sizing.
• Reduced tooltip show delay to 200ms.
• Show transaction diagram fee percentage as less than 0.01% rather than 0.00%.
• Optimized and reduced Electrum server RPC calls.
• Upgraded Bouncy Castle, PGPainless and Logback libraries.
• Upgraded internal Tor to v0.4.8.16.
• Bug fix: Fixed issue with random ordering of keystore origins on labels import.
• Bug fix: Fixed non-zero account script type detection when signing a message on Trezor devices.
• Bug fix: Fixed issue parsing remote Coldcard xpub encoded on a different network.
• Bug fix: Fixed inclusion of fees on wallet label exports.
• Bug fix: Increase Trezor device libusb timeout.

Linux users: Note that the sparrow package has been renamed to sparrowwallet or sparrowserver, and in some cases you may need to manually uninstall the original sparrow package. Look in the /opt folder to ensure you have the new name, and the original is removed.

What's new in v2.2.1

• Updated Tor library to fix missing UUID issue when starting Tor on recent macOS versions.
• Repackaged .deb installs to use older gzip instead of zstd compression.
• Removed display of median fee rate where fee rates source is set to Server.
• Added icons for external sources in Settings and Recent Blocks view
• Bug fix: Fixed issue in Recent Blocks view when switching fee rates source
• Bug fix: Fixed NPE on null fee returned from server

Announcement / Archive
GitHub Repo

@ ec42c765:328c0600

カスタム絵文字とは

任意のオリジナル画像を絵文字のように文中に挿入できる機能です。
また、リアクション（Twitterの いいね のような機能）にもカスタム絵文字を使えます。

カスタム絵文字の対応状況（2025/02/06）

カスタム絵文字を使うためにはカスタム絵文字に対応したクライアントを使う必要があります。

※表は一例です。クライアントは他にもたくさんあります。

使っているクライアントが対応していない場合は、クライアントを変更する、対応するまで待つ、開発者に要望を送る（または自分で実装する）などしましょう。

対応クライアント

• Amethyst
• FreeFrom
• nostter
• Rabbit
• Lumilumi
• Nos Haiku
• Snort
• noStrudel

ここではnostterを使って説明していきます。

準備

カスタム絵文字を使うための準備です。

• Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）を導入する
• 使いたいカスタム絵文字をリストに登録する

Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）を導入する

Nostrエクステンションは使いたいカスタム絵文字を登録する時に必要になります。

また、環境（パソコン、iPhone、androidなど）によって導入方法が違います。

Nostrエクステンションを導入する端末は、実際にNostrを閲覧する端末と違っても構いません（リスト登録はPC、Nostr閲覧はiPhoneなど）。

Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）の導入方法は以下のページを参照してください。

ログイン拡張機能 (NIP-07)を使ってみよう | Welcome to Nostr! ～ Nostrをはじめよう！ ～

少し面倒ですが、これを導入しておくとNostr上の様々な場面で役立つのでより快適になります。

使いたいカスタム絵文字をリストに登録する

以下のサイトで行います。

emojito

右上のGet startedからNostrエクステンションでログインしてください。

例として以下のカスタム絵文字を導入してみます。

実際より絵文字が少なく表示されることがありますが、古い状態のデータを取得してしまっているためです。その場合はブラウザの更新ボタンを押してください。

generalJP | カスタム絵文字

• 右側のOptionsからBookmarkを選択

これでカスタム絵文字を使用するためのリストに登録できます。

カスタム絵文字を使用する

例としてブラウザから使えるクライアント nostter から使用してみます。

nostter

nostterにNostrエクステンションでログイン、もしくは秘密鍵を入れてログインしてください。

文章中に使用

1. 投稿ボタンを押して投稿ウィンドウを表示
2. 顔😀のボタンを押し、絵文字ウィンドウを表示
3. ＊タブを押し、カスタム絵文字一覧を表示
4. カスタム絵文字を選択
5. : 記号に挟まれたアルファベットのショートコードとして挿入される

この状態で投稿するとカスタム絵文字として表示されます。

カスタム絵文字対応クライアントを使っている他ユーザーにもカスタム絵文字として表示されます。

対応していないクライアントの場合、ショートコードのまま表示されます。

ショートコードを直接入力することでカスタム絵文字の候補が表示されるのでそこから選択することもできます。

リアクションに使用

1. 任意の投稿の顔😀のボタンを押し、絵文字ウィンドウを表示
2. ＊タブを押し、カスタム絵文字一覧を表示
3. カスタム絵文字を選択

カスタム絵文字リアクションを送ることができます。

カスタム絵文字を探す

先述したemojitoからカスタム絵文字を探せます。

例えば任意のユーザーのページ emojito ロクヨウ から探したり、 emojito Browse all からnostr全体で最近作成、更新された絵文字を見たりできます。

また、以下のリンクは日本語圏ユーザーが作ったカスタム絵文字を集めたリストです（2025/02/06）

※漏れがあるかもしれません

日本ユーザー作 カスタム絵文字

各絵文字セットにあるOpen in emojitoのリンクからemojitoに飛び、使用リストに追加できます。

---

以上です。

次：Nostrのカスタム絵文字の作り方

Yakihonneリンク Nostrのカスタム絵文字の作り方

Nostrリンク nostr:naddr1qqxnzdesxuunzv358ycrgveeqgswcsk8v4qck0deepdtluag3a9rh0jh2d0wh0w9g53qg8a9x2xqvqqrqsqqqa28r5psx3

---

仕様

NIP-30 Custom Emoji

NIP-30 カスタム絵文字（和訳）

@ 8bad92c3:ca714aa5

Key Takeaways

Michael Goldstein, aka Bitstein, presents a sweeping philosophical and economic case for going “all in” on Bitcoin, arguing that unlike fiat, which distorts capital formation and fuels short-term thinking, Bitcoin fosters low time preference, meaningful saving, and long-term societal flourishing. At the heart of his thesis is “hodling for good”—a triple-layered idea encompassing permanence, purpose, and the pursuit of higher values like truth, beauty, and legacy. Drawing on thinkers like Aristotle, Hoppe, and Josef Pieper, Goldstein redefines leisure as contemplation, a vital practice in aligning capital with one’s deepest ideals. He urges Bitcoiners to think beyond mere wealth accumulation and consider how their sats can fund enduring institutions, art, and architecture that reflect a moral vision of the future.

Best Quotes

“Let BlackRock buy the houses, and you keep the sats.”

“We're not hodling just for the sake of hodling. There is a purpose to it.”

“Fiat money shortens your time horizon… you can never rest.”

“Savings precedes capital accumulation. You can’t build unless you’ve saved.”

“You're increasing the marginal value of everyone else’s Bitcoin.”

“True leisure is contemplation—the pursuit of the highest good.”

“What is Bitcoin for if not to make the conditions for magnificent acts of creation possible?”

“Bitcoin itself will last forever. Your stack might not. What will outlast your coins?”

“Only a whale can be magnificent.”

“The market will sell you all the crack you want. It’s up to you to demand beauty.”

Conclusion

This episode is a call to reimagine Bitcoin as more than a financial revolution—it’s a blueprint for civilizational renewal. Michael Goldstein reframes hodling as an act of moral stewardship, urging Bitcoiners to lower their time preference, build lasting institutions, and pursue truth, beauty, and legacy—not to escape the world, but to rebuild it on sound foundations.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
00:50 - Michael’s BBB presentation Hodl for Good
07:27 - Austrian principles on capital
15:40 - Fiat distorts the economic process
23:34 - Bitkey
24:29 - Hodl for Good triple entendre
29:52 - Bitcoin benefits everyone
39:05 - Unchained
40:14 - Leisure theory of value
52:15 - Heightening life
1:15:48 - Breaking from the chase makes room for magnificence
1:32:32 - Nakamoto Institute’s mission

Transcript

(00:00) Fiat money is by its nature a disturbance. If money is being continually produced, especially at an uncertain rate, these uh policies are really just redistribution of wealth. Most are looking for number to go up post hyper bitcoinization. The rate of growth of bitcoin would be more reflective of the growth of the economy as a whole.
(00:23) Ultimately, capital requires knowledge because it requires knowing there is something that you can add to the structures of production to lengthen it in some way that will take time but allow you to have more in the future than you would today. Let Black Rockck buy the houses and you keep the sats, not the other way around.
(00:41) You wait until later for Larry Frink to try to sell you a [Music] mansion. And we're live just like that. Just like that. 3:30 on a Friday, Memorial Day weekend. It's a good good good way to end the week and start the holiday weekend. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you for having me here. Thank you for coming. I wore this hat specifically because I think it's I think it's very apppropo uh to the conversation we're going to have which is I hope an extension of the presentation you gave at Bitblock Boom Huddle for good. You were working on
(01:24) that for many weeks leading up to uh the conference and explaining how you were structuring it. I think it's a very important topic to discuss now as the Bitcoin price is hitting new all-time highs and people are trying to understand what am I doing with Bitcoin? Like you have you have the different sort of factions within Bitcoin.
(01:47) Uh get on a Bitcoin standard, get on zero, spend as much Bitcoin as possible. You have the sailors of the world are saying buy Bitcoin, never sell, die with your Bitcoin. And I think you do a really good job in that presentation. And I just think your understanding overall of Bitcoin is incredible to put everything into context. It's not either or.
(02:07) It really depends on what you want to accomplish. Yeah, it's definitely there there is no actual one-sizefits-all um for I mean nearly anything in this world. So um yeah, I mean first of all I mean there was it was the first conference talk I had given in maybe five years. I think the one prior to that uh was um bit block boom 2019 which was my meme talk which uh has uh become infamous and notorious.
(02:43) So uh there was also a lot of like high expectations uh you know rockstar dev uh has has treated that you know uh that that talk with a lot of reference. a lot of people have enjoyed it and he was expecting this one to be, you know, the greatest one ever, which is a little bit of a little bit of a uh a burden to live up to those kinds of standards.
(03:08) Um, but you know, because I don't give a lot of talks. Um, you know, I I I like to uh try to bring ideas that might even be ideas that are common. So, something like hodling, we all talk about it constantly. uh but try to bring it from a little bit of a different angle and try to give um a little bit of uh new light to it.
(03:31) I alsove I've I've always enjoyed kind of coming at things from a third angle. Um whenever there's, you know, there's there's all these little debates that we have in in Bitcoin and sometimes it's nice to try to uh step out of it and look at it a little more uh kind of objectively and find ways of understanding it that incorporate the truths of of all of them.
(03:58) uh you know cuz I think we should always be kind of as much as possible after ultimate truth. Um so with this one um yeah I was kind of finding that that sort of golden mean. So uh um yeah and I actually I think about that a lot is uh you know Aristotle has his his concept of the golden mean. So it's like any any virtue is sort of between two vices um because you can you can always you can always take something too far.
(04:27) So you're you're always trying to find that right balance. Um so someone who is uh courageous you know uh one of the vices uh on one side is being basically reckless. I I can't remember what word he would use. Uh but effectively being reckless and just wanting to put yourself in danger for no other reason than just you know the thrill of it.
(04:50) Um and then on the other side you would just have cowardice which is like you're unwilling to put yourself um at any risk at any time. Um, and courage is right there in the middle where it's understanding when is the right time uh to put your put yourself, you know, in in the face of danger um and take it on. And so um in some sense this this was kind of me uh in in some ways like I'm obviously a partisan of hodling.
(05:20) Um, I've for, you know, a long time now talked about the, um, why huddling is good, why people do it, why we should expect it. Um, but still trying to find that that sort of golden mean of like yes, huddle, but also what are we hodling for? And it's not we're we're not hodddling just merely for the sake of hodddling.
(05:45) There there is a a purpose to it. And we should think about that. And that would also help us think more about um what are the benefits of of spending, when should we spend, why should we spend, what should we spend on um to actually give light to that sort of side of the debate. Um so that was that was what I was kind of trying to trying to get into.
(06:09) Um, as well as also just uh at the same time despite all the talk of hodling, there's always this perennial uh there's always this perennial dislike of hodlers because we're treated as uh as if um we're just free riding the network or we're just greedy or you know any of these things. And I wanted to show how uh huddling does serve a real economic purpose.
(06:36) Um, and it does benefit the individual, but it also does uh it it has actual real social um benefits as well beyond merely the individual. Um, so I wanted to give that sort of defense of hodling as well to look at it from um a a broader position than just merely I'm trying to get rich. Um uh because even the person who uh that is all they want to do um just like you know your your pure number grow up go up moonboy even that behavior has positive ramifications on on the economy.
(07:14) And while we might look at them and have uh judgments about their particular choices for them as an individual, we shouldn't discount that uh their actions are having positive positive effects for the rest of the economy. Yeah. So, let's dive into that just not even in the context of Bitcoin because I think you did a great job of this in the presentation.
(07:36) just you've done a good job of this consistently throughout the years that I've known you. Just from like a first principles Austrian economics perspective, what is the idea around capital accumulation, low time preference and deployment of that capital like what what like getting getting into like the nitty-gritty and then applying it to Bitcoin? Yeah, it's it's a big question and um in many ways I mean I I even I barely scratched the surface.
(08:05) uh I I can't claim to have read uh all the volumes of Bombber works, you know, capital and interest and and stuff like that. Um but I think there's some some sort of basic concepts that we can look at that we can uh draw a lot out. Um the first uh I guess let's write that. So repeat so like capital time preference. Yeah. Well, I guess getting more broad like why sav

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

CANNES, FRANCE – May 2025 — Bitcoin mining made its mark at the world’s most prestigious film gathering this year as Puerto Rican director and producer Alana Mediavilla introduced her feature documentary Dirty Coin: The Bitcoin Mining Documentary at the Marché du Film during the Cannes Film Festival.

The film puts bitcoin mining at the center of a rising global conversation about energy, technology, and economic freedom.

Dirty Coin is the first feature-length documentary to explore bitcoin mining through immersive, on-the-ground case studies.

From rural towns in the United States to hydro-powered sites in Latin America and the Congo, the film follows miners and communities navigating what may be one of the most misunderstood technologies of our time.

The result is a human-centered look at how bitcoin mining is transforming local economies and energy infrastructure in real ways.

To mark its Cannes debut, Mediavilla and her team hosted a packed industry event that brought together leaders from both film and finance.

Dirty Coin debut ceremony at the Marché du Film

Sponsors Celestial Management, Sangha Renewables, Nordblock, and Paystand.org supported the program, which featured panels on mining, energy use, and decentralized infrastructure.

Attendees had the rare opportunity to engage directly with pioneers in the space. A special session in French led by Seb Gouspillou spotlighted mining efforts in the Congo’s Virunga region.

Dirty Coin builds on Mediavilla’s award-winning short film Stranded, which won over 20 international prizes, including Best Short Documentary at Cannes in 2024.

That success helped lay the foundation for the feature and positioned Mediavilla as one of the boldest new voices in global documentary filmmaking.

Alana Mediavilla speaks at the Marché du Film — Cannes Film Festival

“If we’ve found an industry that can unlock stranded energy and turn it into real power for people—especially in regions with energy poverty—why wouldn’t we look into it?” says Mediavilla. “Our privilege blinds us.

“The same thing we criticize could be the very thing that lifts the developing world to our standard of living. Ignoring that potential is a failure of imagination.”

Much like the decentralized network it explores, Dirty Coin is spreading globally through grassroots momentum.

Local leaders are hosting independent screenings around the world, from Roatán and Berlin to São Paulo and Madrid. Upcoming events include Toronto and Zurich, with more cities joining each month.

Mediavilla, who previously worked in creative leadership roles in the U.S. — including as a producer at Google — returned to Puerto Rico to found Campo Libre, a studio focused on high-caliber, globally relevant storytelling from the Caribbean.

She was also accepted into the Cannes Producers Network, a selective program open only to producers with box office releases in the past four years.

Mediavilla qualified after independently releasing Dirty Coin in theaters across Puerto Rico. Her participation in the network gave her direct access to meetings, insights, and connections with the most active distributors and producers working today.

The film’s next public screening will take place at the Anthem Film Festival in Palm Springs on Saturday, June 14 at 2 PM. Additional screenings and market appearances are planned throughout the year at Bitcoin events and international film platforms.

Dirty Coin at the Cannes Film Festival

Watch the Trailer + Access Press Materials

📂 EPK
🎬 Screener
🌍 Host a Screening

Follow the Movement

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirty_coin_official/
Twitter: https://x.com/DirtyCoinDoc
Website: www.dirtycointhemovie.com

@ ec42c765:328c0600

カスタム絵文字とは

任意のオリジナル画像を絵文字のように文中に挿入できる機能です。
また、リアクション（Twitterの いいね のような機能）にもカスタム絵文字を使えます。

カスタム絵文字の対応状況（2024/02/05）

カスタム絵文字を使うためにはカスタム絵文字に対応したクライアントを使う必要があります。

※表は一例です。クライアントは他にもたくさんあります。

使っているクライアントが対応していない場合は、クライアントを変更する、対応するまで待つ、開発者に要望を送る（または自分で実装する）などしましょう。

対応クライアント

• Amethyst
• FreeFrom
• nostter
• Rabbit
• Snort
• noStrudel

ここではnostterを使って説明していきます。

準備

カスタム絵文字を使うための準備です。

• Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）を導入する
• 使いたいカスタム絵文字をリストに登録する

Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）を導入する

Nostrエクステンションは使いたいカスタム絵文字を登録する時に必要になります。

また、環境（パソコン、iPhone、androidなど）によって導入方法が違います。

Nostrエクステンションを導入する端末は、実際にNostrを閲覧する端末と違っても構いません（リスト登録はPC、Nostr閲覧はiPhoneなど）。

Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）の導入方法は以下のページを参照してください。

ログイン拡張機能 (NIP-07)を使ってみよう | Welcome to Nostr! ～ Nostrをはじめよう！ ～

少し面倒ですが、これを導入しておくとNostr上の様々な場面で役立つのでより快適になります。

使いたいカスタム絵文字をリストに登録する

以下のサイトで行います。

emojito

右上のGet startedからNostrエクステンションでログインしてください。

例として以下のカスタム絵文字を導入してみます。

実際より絵文字が少なく表示されることがありますが、古い状態のデータを取得してしまっているためです。その場合はブラウザの更新ボタンを押してください。

generalJP | カスタム絵文字

• 右側のOptionsからBookmarkを選択

これでカスタム絵文字を使用するためのリストに登録できます。

カスタム絵文字を使用する

例としてブラウザから使えるクライアント nostter から使用してみます。

nostter

nostterにNostrエクステンションでログイン、もしくは秘密鍵を入れてログインしてください。

文章中に使用

1. 投稿ボタンを押して投稿ウィンドウを表示
2. 顔😀のボタンを押し、絵文字ウィンドウを表示
3. ＊タブを押し、カスタム絵文字一覧を表示
4. カスタム絵文字を選択
5. : 記号に挟まれたアルファベットのショートコードとして挿入される

この状態で投稿するとカスタム絵文字として表示されます。

カスタム絵文字対応クライアントを使っている他ユーザーにもカスタム絵文字として表示されます。

対応していないクライアントの場合、ショートコードのまま表示されます。

ショートコードを直接入力することでカスタム絵文字の候補が表示されるのでそこから選択することもできます。

リアクションに使用

1. 任意の投稿の顔😀のボタンを押し、絵文字ウィンドウを表示
2. ＊タブを押し、カスタム絵文字一覧を表示
3. カスタム絵文字を選択

カスタム絵文字リアクションを送ることができます。

カスタム絵文字を探す

先述したemojitoからカスタム絵文字を探せます。

例えば任意のユーザーのページ emojito ロクヨウ から探したり、 emojito Browse all からnostr全体で最近作成、更新された絵文字を見たりできます。

また、以下のリンクは日本語圏ユーザーが作ったカスタム絵文字を集めたリストです（2024/06/30）

※漏れがあるかもしれません

日本ユーザー作 カスタム絵文字

各絵文字セットにあるOpen in emojitoのリンクからemojitoに飛び、使用リストに追加できます。

---

以上です。

次：Nostrのカスタム絵文字の作り方

Yakihonneリンク Nostrのカスタム絵文字の作り方

Nostrリンク nostr:naddr1qqxnzdesxuunzv358ycrgveeqgswcsk8v4qck0deepdtluag3a9rh0jh2d0wh0w9g53qg8a9x2xqvqqrqsqqqa28r5psx3

---

仕様

NIP-30 Custom Emoji

NIP-30 カスタム絵文字（和訳）

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

I'm launching a new service review section on this blog in collaboration with OrangeFren. These reviews are sponsored, yet the sponsorship does not influence the outcome of the evaluations. Reviews are done in advance, then, the service provider has the discretion to approve publication without modifications.

Sponsored reviews are independent from the kycnot.me list, being only part of the blog. The reviews have no impact on the scores of the listings or their continued presence on the list. Should any issues arise, I will not hesitate to remove any listing.

---

The review

WizardSwap is an instant exchange centred around privacy coins. It was launched in 2020 making it old enough to have weathered the 2021 bull run and the subsequent bearish year.

| Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Tor-friendly | Limited liquidity | | Guarantee of no KYC | Overly simplistic design | | Earn by providing liquidity | |

Rating: ★★★★★ Service Website: wizardswap.io

Liquidity

Right off the bat, we'll start off by pointing out that WizardSwap relies on its own liquidity reserves, meaning they aren't just a reseller of Binance or another exchange. They're also committed to a no-KYC policy, when asking them, they even promised they would rather refund a user their original coins, than force them to undergo any sort of verification.

On the one hand, full control over all their infrastructure gives users the most privacy and conviction about the KYC policies remaining in place.

On the other hand, this means the liquidity available for swapping isn't huge. At the time of testing we could only purchase at most about 0.73 BTC with XMR.

It's clear the team behind WizardSwap is aware of this shortfall and so they've come up with a solution unique among instant exchanges. They let you, the user, deposit any of the currencies they support into your account and earn a profit on the trades made using your liquidity.

Trading

Fees on WizardSwap are middle-of-the-pack. The normal fee is 2.2%. That's more than some exchanges that reserve the right to suddenly demand you undergo verification, yet less than half the fees on some other privacy-first exchanges. However as we mentioned in the section above you can earn almost all of that fee (2%) if you provide liquidity to WizardSwap.

It's good that with the current Bitcoin fee market their fees are constant regardless of how much, or how little, you send. This is in stark contrast with some of the alternative swap providers that will charge you a massive premium when attempting to swap small amounts of BTC away.

Test trades

Test trades are always performed without previous notice to the service provider.

During our testing we performed a few test trades and found that every single time WizardSwap immediately detected the incoming transaction and the amount we received was exactly what was quoted before depositing. The fees were inline with what WizardSwap advertises.

• Monero payment proof
• Bitcoin received
• Wizardswap TX link - it's possible that this link may cease to be valid at some point in the future.

ToS and KYC

WizardSwap does not have a Terms of Service or a Privacy Policy page, at least none that can be found by users. Instead, they offer a FAQ section where they addresses some basic questions.

The site does not mention any KYC or AML practices. It also does not specify how refunds are handled in case of failure. However, based on the FAQ section "What if I send funds after the offer expires?" it can be inferred that contacting support is necessary and network fees will be deducted from any refund.

UI & Tor

WizardSwap can be visited both via your usual browser and Tor Browser. Should you decide on the latter you'll find that the website works even with the most strict settings available in the Tor Browser (meaning no JavaScript).

However, when disabling Javascript you'll miss the live support chat, as well as automatic refreshing of the trade page. The lack of the first means that you will have no way to contact support from the trade page if anything goes wrong during your swap, although you can do so by mail.

One important thing to have in mind is that if you were to accidentally close the browser during the swap, and you did not save the swap ID or your browser history is disabled, you'll have no easy way to return to the trade. For this reason we suggest when you begin a trade to copy the url or ID to someplace safe, before sending any coins to WizardSwap.

The UI you'll be greeted by is simple, minimalist, and easy to navigate. It works well not just across browsers, but also across devices. You won't have any issues using this exchange on your phone.

Getting in touch

The team behind WizardSwap appears to be most active on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/WizardSwap_io

If you have any comments or suggestions about the exchange make sure to reach out to them. In the past they've been very receptive to user feedback, for instance a few months back WizardSwap was planning on removing DeepOnion, but the community behind that project got together ^1 and after reaching out WizardSwap reversed their decision ^2.

You can also contact them via email at: support @ wizardswap . io

Disclaimer

None of the above should be understood as investment or financial advice. The views are our own only and constitute a faithful representation of our experience in using and investigating this exchange. This review is not a guarantee of any kind on the services rendered by the exchange. Do your own research before using any service.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

Bitcoin enthusiasts frequently and correctly remark how much value it adds to Bitcoin not to have a face, a leader, or a central authority behind it. This particularity means there isn't a single person to exert control over, or a single human point of failure who could become corrupt or harmful to the project.

Because of this, it is said that no other coin can be equally valuable as Bitcoin in terms of decentralization and trustworthiness. Bitcoin is unique not just for being first, but also because of how the events behind its inception developed. This implies that, from Bitcoin onwards, any coin created would have been created by someone, consequently having an authority behind it. For this and some other reasons, some people refer to Bitcoin as "The Immaculate Conception".

While other coins may have their own unique features and advantages, they may not be able to replicate Bitcoin's community-driven nature. However, one other cryptocurrency shares a similar story of mystery behind its creation: Monero.

History of Monero

Bytecoin and CryptoNote

In March 2014, a Bitcointalk thread titled "Bytecoin. Secure, private, untraceable since 2012" was initiated by a user under the nickname "DStrange"^1^. DStrange presented Bytecoin (BCN) as a unique cryptocurrency, in operation since July 2012. Unlike Bitcoin, it employed a new algorithm known as CryptoNote.

DStrange apparently stumbled upon the Bytecoin website by chance while mining a dying bitcoin fork, and decided to create a thread on Bitcointalk^1^. This sparked curiosity among some users, who wondered how could Bytecoin remain unnoticed since its alleged launch in 2012 until then^2^.

Some time after, a user brought up the "CryptoNote v2.0" whitepaper for the first time, underlining its innovative features^4^. Authored by the pseudonymous Nicolas van Saberhagen in October 2013, the CryptoNote v2 whitepaper^5^ highlighted the traceability and privacy problems in Bitcoin. Saberhagen argued that these flaws could not be quickly fixed, suggesting it would be more efficient to start a new project rather than trying to patch the original^5^, an statement simmilar to the one from Satoshi Nakamoto^6^.

Checking with Saberhagen's digital signature, the release date of the whitepaper seemed correct, which would mean that Cryptonote (v1) was created in 2012^7^, although there's an important detail: "Signing time is from the clock on the signer's computer" ^9^.

Moreover, the whitepaper v1 contains a footnote link to a Bitcointalk post dated May 5, 2013^10^, making it impossible for the whitepaper to have been signed and released on December 12, 2012.

As the narrative developed, users discovered that a significant 80% portion of Bytecoin had been pre-mined^11^ and blockchain dates seemed to be faked to make it look like it had been operating since 2012, leading to controversy surrounding the project.

The origins of CryptoNote and Bytecoin remain mysterious, leaving suspicions of a possible scam attempt, although the whitepaper had a good amount of work and thought on it.

The fork

In April 2014, the Bitcointalk user thankful_for_today, who had also participated in the Bytecoin thread^12^, announced plans to launch a Bytecoin fork named Bitmonero^13^.

The primary motivation behind this fork was "Because there is a number of technical and marketing issues I wanted to do differently. And also because I like ideas and technology and I want it to succeed"^14^. This time Bitmonero did things different from Bytecoin: there was no premine or instamine, and no portion of the block reward went to development.

However, thankful_for_today proposed controversial changes that the community disagreed with. Johnny Mnemonic relates the events surrounding Bitmonero and thankful_for_today in a Bitcointalk comment^15^:

When thankful_for_today launched BitMonero [...] he ignored everything that was discussed and just did what he wanted. The block reward was considerably steeper than what everyone was expecting. He also moved forward with 1-minute block times despite everyone's concerns about the increase of orphan blocks. He also didn't address the tail emission concern that should've (in my opinion) been in the code at launch time. Basically, he messed everything up. Then, he disappeared.

After disappearing for a while, thankful_for_today returned to find that the community had taken over the project. Johnny Mnemonic continues:

I, and others, started working on new forks that were closer to what everyone else was hoping for. [...] it was decided that the BitMonero project should just be taken over. There were like 9 or 10 interested parties at the time if my memory is correct. We voted on IRC to drop the "bit" from BitMonero and move forward with the project. Thankful_for_today suddenly resurfaced, and wasn't happy to learn the community had assumed control of the coin. He attempted to maintain his own fork (still calling it "BitMonero") for a while, but that quickly fell into obscurity.

The unfolding of these events show us the roots of Monero. Much like Satoshi Nakamoto, the creators behind CryptoNote/Bytecoin and thankful_for_today remain a mystery^17^, having disappeared without a trace. This enigma only adds to Monero's value.

Since community took over development, believing in the project's potential and its ability to be guided in a better direction, Monero was given one of Bitcoin's most important qualities: a leaderless nature. With no single face or entity directing its path, Monero is safe from potential corruption or harm from a "central authority".

The community continued developing Monero until today. Since then, Monero has undergone a lot of technological improvements, migrations and achievements such as RingCT and RandomX. It also has developed its own Community Crowdfundinc System, conferences such as MoneroKon and Monerotopia are taking place every year, and has a very active community around it.

Monero continues to develop with goals of privacy and security first, ease of use and efficiency second. ^16^

This stands as a testament to the power of a dedicated community operating without a central figure of authority. This decentralized approach aligns with the original ethos of cryptocurrency, making Monero a prime example of community-driven innovation. For this, I thank all the people involved in Monero, that lead it to where it is today.

If you find any information that seems incorrect, unclear or any missing important events, please contact me and I will make the necessary changes.

Sources of interest

• https://forum.getmonero.org/20/general-discussion/211/history-of-monero
• https://monero.stackexchange.com/questions/852/what-is-the-origin-of-monero-and-its-relationship-to-bytecoin
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monero
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.0
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=563821.0
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=233561
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.0
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=740112.0
• https://monero.stackexchange.com/a/1024
• https://inspec2t-project.eu/cryptocurrency-with-a-focus-on-anonymity-these-facts-are-known-about-monero/
• https://medium.com/coin-story/coin-perspective-13-riccardo-spagni-69ef82907bd1
• https://www.getmonero.org/resources/about/
• https://www.wired.com/2017/01/monero-drug-dealers-cryptocurrency-choice-fire/
• https://www.monero.how/why-monero-vs-bitcoin
• https://old.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/u8e5yr/satoshi_nakamoto_talked_about_privacy_features/

@ 59cb0748:9602464b

Nostrでお世話になっている方も、お世話になってない方も、こんにちは！

タコ頭大吉です！

NIP-23を使った初めての投稿です。

今回は、私がここ数ヶ月中にデザインをした三種類のビタキセケースの紹介記事になります！！

ビタキセを買ったもののあまり自分の好みに合う外観や仕様のケースがなく、いくつかプロトタイプを作りそれなりに時間をかけて考えたケース達です。

これら３シリーズに関しては、FDMタイプの3Dプリンタの精度、耐久性、出力後の作業性を考慮して一つのパーツで完結することに拘って設計をしました。

一定以上の充填率でプリントをすればそれなりに丈夫なはずです。

また、基本的に放熱性と保護性を両立できるように設計をしたつもります。

それぞれのモデルについて簡単に紹介をさせていただきますので、よろしければ各リポジトリに付属のREADMEを読んでいただいて自作、フィードバックをいただけましたら幸いです。

それでは、簡単に各モデルの紹介をさせていたきます。

---

AirLiftFrame

最初に作ったモデルです！ 少し大きいのが難点ですが、分厚めのフレームをベースとし基盤周辺をあえて囲わない設計により、保護性と放熱を阻害しない事の両立を狙っています。

リポジトリへ

---

TwinAirLiftFrame

ビタキセを買い増ししたことにより、複数台をカッコよく運用したいという需要が自分の中に出てきたので、AirLiftFrameを2つくっつけたら良いのではと言うごくごく単純な発想でつくり始めたケースです。 しかし、ただ横並びにしただけでは廃熱が干渉するだけではなく、DCジャックやUSBポートへのアクセスが阻害されるという問題にすぐに気がつきました。 そこで、WebUI上でディスプレイの表示を上下反転出来ることに注目し、2台を上下逆向きに取り付ける事でそれらの問題を解決しました！

リポジトリへ

---

VoronoiShell

AirLiftFrameシリーズのサイズを小型化する事から始めたプロジョクトです。 縦横の寸法の削減だけではなく、厚みを薄くつくリたいという希望がありました。 所が単純に薄くすると、持った時に発熱する背面パーツに手が触れてしまったり、落下などでぶつかった際に背面パーツが破損する懸念がありました。 そこで、(当初は付けたくはなかった)背面保護用のグリルをデザインする必要が出てきました。 初めは多角形でしたがあまりにもダサく、調べている内にVoronoi柄という有機的なパターンに行き付き即採用しました。 結果、ビタキセを取り付けると柄が見えなくなるのが勿体無いぐらい個性的でスタイリッシュなデザインに仕上がりました。

リポジトリへ

---

いずれカスタム方法やインサートナットや増設ファンの選定方法等を紹介したいのですが、今回はNIP-23になれるという意図もあるので紹介に留めます！ また、他の関連OSハードウェアプロジェクトのケースもデザインできたらと思っております！

今後ともタコ頭をよろしくお願いいたします。

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Paris, France – June 6, 2025 — Bitcoin payment gateway startup Flash, just announced a new partnership with the “Bitcoin Only Brewery”, marking the first-ever beverage company to leverage Lightning payments.

Flash enables Bitcoin Only Brewery to offer its “BOB” beer with, no-KYC (Know Your Customer) delivery across Europe, priced at 19,500 sats (~$18) for the 4-pack, shipping included.

The cans feature colorful Bitcoin artwork while the contents promise a hazy pale ale: “Each 33cl can contains a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, hazy appearance and refreshing Pale Ale at 5% ABV,” reads the product description.

Pierre Corbin, Co-Founder of Flash, commented:

“Currently, bitcoin is used more as a store of value but usage for payments is picking up. Thanks to new innovation on Lightning, bitcoin is ready to go mainstream for e-commerce sales.”

Flash, launched its 2.0 version in March 2025 with the goal to provide the easiest bitcoin payment gateway for businesses worldwide. The platform is non-custodial and can enable both digital and physical shops to accept bitcoin by connecting their own wallets to Flash.

By leveraging the scalability of the Lightning Network, Flash ensures instant, low-cost transactions, addressing on-chain Bitcoin bottlenecks like high fees and long wait times.

For businesses interested in adopting Bitcoin payments, Flash offers a straightforward onboarding process, low fees, and robust support for both digital and physical goods. To learn more, visit paywithflash.com.

Media Contact:
Pierre Corbin
Co-Founder, Flash
Email: press@paywithflash.com
Website: paywithflash.com

About Flash

Flash is the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses to accept payments. Supporting both digital and physical enterprises, Flash leverages the Lightning Network to enable fast, low-cost Bitcoin transactions. Launched in its 2.0 version in March 2025, Flash is at the forefront of driving Bitcoin adoption in e-commerce.

About Bitcoin Only Brewery

Bitcoin Only Brewery (@Drink_B0B) is a pioneering beverage company dedicated to the Bitcoin ethos, offering high-quality beers payable exclusively in Bitcoin. With a commitment to personal privacy, the brewery delivers across Europe with no-KYC requirements.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

I've been thinking about how to improve my seed backup in a cheap and cool way, mostly for fun. Until now, I had the seed written on a piece of paper in a desk drawer, and I wanted something more durable and fire-proof.

Show me the final result!

After searching online, I found two options I liked the most: the Cryptosteel Capsule and the Trezor Keep. These products are nice but quite expensive, and I didn't want to spend that much on my seed backup. Privacy is also important, and sharing details like a shipping address makes me uncomfortable. This concern has grown since the Ledger incident^1. A $5 wrench attack^2 seems too cheap, even if you only hold a few sats.

Upon seeing the design of Cryptosteel, I considered creating something similar at home. Although it may not be as cool as their device, it could offer almost the same in terms of robustness and durability.

Step 1: Get the materials and tools

When choosing the materials, you will want to go with stainless steel. It is durable, resistant to fire, water, and corrosion, very robust, and does not rust. Also, its price point is just right; it's not the cheapest, but it's cheap for the value you get.

I went to a material store and bought:

• Two bolts
• Two hex nuts and head nuts for the bolts
• A bag of 30 washers

All items were made of stainless steel. The total price was around €6. This is enough for making two seed backups.

You will also need:

• A set of metal letter stamps (I bought a 2mm-size letter kit since my washers were small, 6mm in diameter)
  • You can find these in local stores or online marketplaces. The set I bought cost me €13.
• A good hammer
• A solid surface to stamp on

Total spent: 19€ for two backups

Step 2: Stamp and store

Once you have all the materials, you can start stamping your words. There are many videos on the internet that use fancy 3D-printed tools to get the letters nicely aligned, but I went with the free-hand option. The results were pretty decent.

I only stamped the first 4 letters for each word since the BIP-39 wordlist allows for this. Because my stamping kit did not include numbers, I used alphabet letters to define the order. This way, if all the washers were to fall off, I could still reassemble the seed correctly.

The final result

So this is the final result. I added two smaller washers as protection and also put the top washer reversed so the letters are not visible:

Compared to the Cryptosteel or the Trezor Keep, its size is much more compact. This makes for an easier-to-hide backup, in case you ever need to hide it inside your human body.

Some ideas

Tamper-evident seal

To enhance the security this backup, you can consider using a tamper-evident seal. This can be easily achieved by printing a unique image or using a specific day's newspaper page (just note somewhere what day it was).

Apply a thin layer of glue to the washer's surface and place the seal over it. If someone attempts to access the seed, they will be forced to destroy the seal, which will serve as an evident sign of tampering.

This simple measure will provide an additional layer of protection and allow you to quickly identify any unauthorized access attempts.

Note that this method is not resistant to outright theft. The tamper-evident seal won't stop a determined thief but it will prevent them from accessing your seed without leaving any trace.

Redundancy

Make sure to add redundancy. Make several copies of this cheap backup, and store them in separate locations.

Unique wordset

Another layer of security could be to implement your own custom mnemonic dictionary. However, this approach has the risk of permanently losing access to your funds if not implemented correctly.

If done properly, you could potentially end up with a highly secure backup, as no one else would be able to derive the seed phrase from it. To create your custom dictionary, assign a unique number from 1 to 2048 to a word of your choice. Maybe you could use a book, and index the first 2048 unique words that appear. Make sure to store this book and even get a couple copies of it (digitally and phisically).

This self-curated set of words will serve as your personal BIP-39 dictionary. When you need to translate between your custom dictionary and the official BIP-39 wordlist, simply use the index number to find the corresponding word in either list.

Never write the idex or words on your computer (Do not use Ctr+F)

@ ec42c765:328c0600

この記事は前回の内容を把握している人向けに書いています（特にNostrエクステンション（NIP-07）導入）

前回：Nostrのカスタム絵文字の使い方

手順

1. 登録する画像を用意する
2. 画像をweb上にアップロードする
3. 絵文字セットに登録する

1. 登録する画像を用意する

以下のような方法で用意してください。

• 画像編集ソフト等を使って自分で作成する
• 絵文字作成サイトを使う（絵文字ジェネレーター、MEGAMOJI など）
• フリー画像を使う（いらすとや など）

データ量削減

Nostrでは画像をそのまま表示するクライアントが多いので、データ量が大きな画像をそのまま使うとモバイル通信時などに負担がかかります。

データ量を増やさないためにサイズやファイル形式を変更することをおすすめします。

以下は私のおすすめです。 * サイズ：正方形 128×128 ピクセル、長方形 任意の横幅×128 ピクセル * ファイル形式：webp形式（webp変換おすすめサイト toimg） * 単色、単純な画像の場合：png形式（webpにするとむしろサイズが大きくなる）

その他

• 背景透過画像
• ダークモード、ライトモード両方で見やすい色

がおすすめです。

2. 画像をweb上にアップロードする

よく分からなければ emojito からのアップロードで問題ないです。
普段使っている画像アップロード先があるならそれでも構いません。
気になる方はアップロード先を適宜選んでください。

既に投稿されたカスタム絵文字の画像に対して

• 削除も差し替えもできない → emojito など
• 削除できるが差し替えはできない → Gyazo、nostrcheck.meなど
• 削除も差し替えもできる → GitHub 、セルフホスティングなど

これらは既にNostr上に投稿されたカスタム絵文字の画像を後から変更できるかどうかを指します。
どの方法でも新しく使われるカスタム絵文字を変更することは可能です。
同一のカスタム絵文字セットに同一のショートコードで別の画像を登録する形で対応できます。

3. 絵文字セットに登録する

emojito から登録します。

右上のアイコン → + New emoji set から新規の絵文字セットを作成できます。

① 絵文字セット名を入力

基本的にカスタム絵文字はカスタム絵文字セットを作り、ひとまとまりにして登録します。

一度作った絵文字セットに後から絵文字を追加することもできます。

② 画像をアップロードまたは画像URLを入力

emojitoから画像をアップロードする場合、ファイル名に日本語などの2バイト文字が含まれているとアップロードがエラーになるようです。

その場合はファイル名を適当な英数字などに変更してください。

③ 絵文字のショートコードを入力

ショートコードは絵文字を呼び出す時に使用する場合があります。

他のカスタム絵文字と被っても問題ありませんが選択時に複数表示されて支障が出る可能性があります。

他と被りにくく長くなりすぎないショートコードが良いかもしれません。

ショートコードに使えるのは半角の英数字とアンダーバーのみです。

④ 追加

Add を押してもまだ作成完了にはなりません。

一度に絵文字を複数登録できます。

最後に右上の Save を押すと作成完了です。

画面が切り替わるので、右側の Options から Bookmark を選択するとそのカスタム絵文字セットを自分で使えるようになります。

既存の絵文字セットを編集するには Options から Edit を選択します。

以上です。

---

仕様

NIP-30 Custom Emoji

NIP-30 カスタム絵文字（和訳）

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

kycnot.me features a somewhat hidden tool that some users may not be aware of. Every month, an automated job crawls every listed service's Terms of Service (ToS) and FAQ pages and conducts an AI-driven analysis, generating a comprehensive overview that highlights key points related to KYC and user privacy.

Here's an example: Changenow's Tos Review

Why?

ToS pages typically contain a lot of complicated text. Since the first versions of kycnot.me, I have tried to provide users a comprehensive overview of what can be found in such documents. This automated method keeps the information up-to-date every month, which was one of the main challenges with manual updates.

A significant part of the time I invest in investigating a service for kycnot.me involves reading the ToS and looking for any clauses that might indicate aggressive KYC practices or privacy concerns. For the past four years, I performed this task manually. However, with advancements in language models, this process can now be somewhat automated. I still manually review the ToS for a quick check and regularly verify the AI’s findings. However, over the past three months, this automated method has proven to be quite reliable.

Having a quick ToS overview section allows users to avoid reading the entire ToS page. Instead, you can quickly read the important points that are grouped, summarized, and referenced, making it easier and faster to understand the key information.

Limitations

This method has a key limitation: JS-generated pages. For this reason, I was using Playwright in my crawler implementation. I plan to make a release addressing this issue in the future. There are also sites that don't have ToS/FAQ pages, but these sites already include a warning in that section.

Another issue is false positives. Although not very common, sometimes the AI might incorrectly interpret something harmless as harmful. Such errors become apparent upon reading; it's clear when something marked as bad should not be categorized as such. I manually review these cases regularly, checking for anything that seems off and then removing any inaccuracies.

Overall, the automation provides great results.

How?

There have been several iterations of this tool. Initially, I started with GPT-3.5, but the results were not good in any way. It made up many things, and important thigs were lost on large ToS pages. I then switched to GPT-4 Turbo, but it was expensive. Eventually, I settled on Claude 3 Sonnet, which provides a quality compromise between GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 Turbo at a more reasonable price, while allowing a generous 200K token context window.

I designed a prompt, which is open source^1, that has been tweaked many times and will surely be adjusted further in the future.

For the ToS scraping part, I initially wrote a scraper API using Playwright^2, but I replaced it with Jina AI Reader^3, which works quite well and is designed for this task.

Non-conflictive ToS

All services have a dropdown in the ToS section called "Non-conflictive ToS Reviews." These are the reviews that the AI flagged as not needing a user warning. I still provide these because I think they may be interesting to read.

Feedback and contributing

You can give me feedback on this tool, or share any inaccuraties by either opening an issue on Codeberg^4 or by contacting me ^5.

You can contribute with pull requests, which are always welcome, or you can support this project with any of the listed ways.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

These reviews are sponsored, yet the sponsorship does not influence the outcome of the evaluations. Sponsored reviews are independent from the kycnot.me list, being only part of the blog. The reviews have no impact on the scores of the listings or their continued presence on the list. Should any issues arise, I will not hesitate to remove any listing. Reviews are in collaboration with Orangefren.

The review

Swapter.io is an all-purpose instant exchange. They entered the scene in the depths of the bear market about 2 years ago in June of 2022.

| Pros | Cons | | --------------- | ---------------------------------- | | Low fees | Shotgun KYC with opaque triggers | | Large liquidity | Relies on 3rd party liquidity | | Works over Tor | Front-end not synced with back-end | | Pretty UI | |

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Service Website: swapter.io

⚠️ There is an ongoing issue with this service: read more on Reddit.

Test Trades

During our testing we performed a trade from XMR to LTC, and then back to XMR.

Our first trade had the ID of: mpUitpGemhN8jjNAjQuo6EvQ. We were promised 0.8 LTC for sending 0.5 XMR, before we sent the Monero. When the Monero arrived we were sent 0.799 LTC.

On the return journey we performed trade with ID: yaCRb5pYcRKAZcBqg0AzEGYg. This time we were promised 0.4815 XMR for sending 0.799 LTC. After Litecoin arrived we were sent 0.4765 XMR.

As such we saw a discrepancy of ~0.1% in the first trade and ~1% in the second trade. Considering those trades were floating we determine the estimates presented in the UI to be highly accurate and honest.

Of course Swapter could've been imposing a large fee on their estimates, but we checked their estimates against CoinGecko and found the difference to be equivalent to a fee of just over 0.5%. Perfectly in line with other swapping services.

Trading

Swapter supports BTC, LTC, XMR and well over a thousand other coins. Sadly they don't support the Lightning Network. For the myriad of currencies they deal with they provide massive upper limits. You could exchange tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of dollars worth of cryptocurrency in a single trade (although we wouldn't recommend it).

The flip side to this is that Swapter relies on 3rd party liquidity. Aside from the large liqudity this also benefits the user insofar as it allows for very low fees. However, it also comes with a negative - the 3rd party gets to see all your trades. Unfortunately Swapter opted not to share where they source their liquidity in their Privacy Policy or Terms of Service.

KYC & AML policies

Swapter reserves the right to require its users to provide their full name, their date of birth, their address and government-issued ID. A practice known as "shotgun KYC". This should not happen often - in our testing it never did - however it's not clear when exactly it could happen. The AML & KYC policy provided on Swapter's website simply states they will put your trade on hold if their "risk scoring system [deems it] as suspicious".

Worse yet, if they determine that "any of the information [the] customer provided is incorrect, false, outdated, or incomplete" then Swapter may decide to terminate all of the services they provide to the user. What exactly would happen to their funds in such a case remains unclear.

The only clarity we get is that the Swapter policy outlines a designated 3rd party that will verify the information provided by the user. The third party's name is Sum & Substance Ltd, also simply known as samsub and available at sumsub.com

It's understandable that some exchanges will decide on a policy of this sort, especially when they rely on external liquidity, but we would prefer more clarity be given. When exactly is a trade suspicious?

Tor

We were pleased to discover Swapter works over Tor. However, they do not provide a Tor mirror, nor do they work without JavaScript. Additionally, we found that some small features, such as the live chat, did not work over Tor. Fortunately, other means of contacting their support are still available.

UI

We have found the Swapter UI to be very modern, straightforward and simple to use. It's available in 4 languages (English, French, Dutch and Russian), although we're unable to vouch for the quality of some of those, the ones that we used seemed perfectly serviceable.

Our only issue with the UI was that it claims the funds have been sent following the trade, when in reality it seems to take the backend a minute or so to actually broadcast the transaction.

Getting in touch

Swapter's team has a chat on their website, a support email address and a support Telegram. Their social media presence in most active on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter).

Disclaimer

None of the above should be understood as investment or financial advice. The views are our own only and constitute a faithful representation of our experience in using and investigating this exchange. This review is not a guarantee of any kind on the services rendered by the exchange. Do your own research before using any service.

@ ec42c765:328c0600

Nostr Advent Calendar 2024 の 12日目の記事です。

昨日の 12/11 は きりの さんの 2024年のNostrリレー運営を振り返る でした。

nostr-zap-view 作った

リポジトリ: https://github.com/Lokuyow/nostr-zap-view/
動作確認ページ: https://lokuyow.github.io/nostr-zap-view/

それ何？

特定の誰かや何かに宛てたZap（投げ銭）を一覧できるやつ
を
自分のWebサイトに設置できるやつ

---

自分のサイトに設置した例 * SNSリンク集ページ（最下部）: https://lokuyow.github.io/
おいくらサッツ（Zap一覧ボタン）: https://osats.money/
今日からビットコ（最下部）: https://lokuyow.github.io/btc-dca-simulator/

なんで作ったの？

私の去年のアドベントカレンダー
【Nostr】Webサイトにビットコインの投げ銭ボタンを設置しよう【Zap】
https://spotlight.soy/detail?article_id=ucd7cbrql/
が前提になってるけど長いので要約すると * ZapするやつはあるけどZap見るやつがないので欲しい * ZapをNostr（の典型的なkind:1クライアント）内だけに留めるのはもったいない * Webサイトの広告うざいからZap（的な何か）で置き換わって欲しい

お前だれ？

非エンジニア、非プログラマー
AIにコード出させてるだけ人

作った感想

できた

作った感想2

完成してから気付いた本当に作りたかったもの
こういうところにそのままZapを表示できる感じにしたい
（ここまでちゃんとした商業ブログでなく）個人のブログやHPの端っこに「Sponsored by」欄があって名前が表示される感じ
もうZapっていう文字もビットコインっていう文字もNostrも出さなくていいし説明もしなくていいのでは感がある
イメージはWebサイトを対象にしたニコニ広告 + スーパーチャット + 祭りとか神社の奉納者一覧

---

で思ったのは
個人からの投げ銭なら推し活的なものにしかならないけど
企業がNostrにアカウントを作ってサイトに投げ銭をしたら企業の広告になるんでは！？
~~企業がNostrにアカウントを！？デリヘルしか見たことない！~~

今後

思いつき、予定は未定
* ボタン→ダイアログ形式でなくバナー、Embed形式にしてページアクセスですぐ見れるようにする * 多分リレーに負荷がかかるのでなんかする * Zapの文字は出さず「Sponsored by」等にする * 単純な最新順でなくする * 少額Zapをトリミング * 一定期間（一か月など）ごとで金額順にソート * 多分リレーに負荷がかかるのでなんかする * 今は投稿宛てのZapをWebサイト宛てのZapと勝手に言い張ってるだけなのでちゃんとWebサイト宛てのZapにする * NIPの提案が必要 * ウォレットの準拠も必要 * リレー（wss://~）宛てのZapもできてほしい

将来

インターネットのすべてに投げ銭をさせろ

---

おわり

明日は mono さんの Open Sats 申請編 です！！

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

The latest AI chips, 8K displays, and neural processing units make your device feel like a pocket supercomputer. So surely, with all this advancement, you can finally mine bitcoin on your phone profitably, right?

The 2025 Hardware Reality: Can You Mine Bitcoin on Your Phone

Despite remarkable advances in smartphone technology, the fundamental physics of bitcoin mining haven’t changed. In 2025, flagship devices with their cutting-edge 2nm processors can achieve approximately 25-40 megahashes per second when you mine bitcoin on your phone—a notable improvement from previous generations, but still laughably inadequate.

Meanwhile, 2025’s top-tier ASIC miners have evolved dramatically. The latest Bitmain Antminer S23 series and Canaan AvalonMiner A15 Pro deliver 200-300 terahashes per second while consuming 4,000-5,500 watts. That’s a performance gap of roughly 1:8,000,000 between when you mine bitcoin on your phone and professional mining equipment.

To put this in perspective that hits home: if you mine bitcoin on your phone and it earned you one penny, professional miners would earn $80,000 in the same time period with the same effort. It’s not just an efficiency problem—it’s a complete category mismatch.

According to Pocket Option’s 2025 analysis, when you mine bitcoin on your phone in 2025, you generate approximately $0.003-0.006 in daily revenue while consuming $0.45-0.85 in electricity through constant charging cycles. Factor in the accelerated device wear (estimated at $0.75-1.20 daily depreciation), and you’re looking at losses of $1.20-2.00 per day just for the privilege of running mining software.

Mining Economic Factor

Precise Value (April 2025)

Direct Impact on Profitability

Smartphone sustained hash rate

20-35 MH/s

0.00000024% contribution to global hashrate

Daily power consumption

3.2-4.8 kWh (4-6 full charges)

$0.38-0.57 at average US electricity rates

Expected daily BTC earnings

0.0000000086 BTC ($0.0035 at $41,200 BTC)

Revenue covers only 0.9% of electricity costs

CPU/GPU wear cost

$0.68-0.92 daily accelerated depreciation

Reduces smartphone lifespan by 60-70%

Annual profit projection

-$386 to -$412 per year

Guaranteed negative return on investment

Source: PocketOption

Bitcoin’s 2025 Network: Harder Than Ever

Bitcoin’s network difficulty in 2025 has reached unprecedented levels. After the April 2024 halving event that reduced block rewards from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC, mining became significantly more competitive. The global hash rate now exceeds 800 exahashes per second—that’s 800 followed by 18 zeros worth of computational power securing the network.

Here’s what this means in practical terms: Bitcoin’s mining difficulty adjusts every 2,016 blocks (roughly every two weeks) to maintain the 10-minute block time. As more efficient miners join the network, difficulty increases proportionally. In 2025, mining difficulty has increased compared to 2024, making small-scale mining even less viable.

The math is unforgiving:

• Global Bitcoin hash rate: 828.96 EH/s
• Your smartphone’s contribution: ~0.000000003%
• Probability of solo mining a block: Virtually zero
• Expected time to mine one Bitcoin: Several million years

Even joining mining pools doesn’t solve the economic problem. Pool fees typically range from 1-3%, and your minuscule contribution would earn proportionally tiny rewards—far below the electricity and device depreciation costs.

The 2025 Scam Evolution: More Sophisticated, More Dangerous

Fraudsters now leverage AI-generated content, fake influencer endorsements, and impressive-looking apps that simulate realistic mining activity to entice you to mine bitcoin on your phone.

New 2025 scam tactics include:

AI-Powered Fake Testimonials: Deepfake videos of supposed successful mobile miners showing fabricated earnings statements and encouraging downloads of malicious apps.

Gamified Mining Interfaces: Apps that look and feel like legitimate games but secretly harvest personal data while simulating mining progress that can never be withdrawn.

Social Media Manipulation: Coordinated campaigns across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube featuring fake “financial influencers” promoting mobile mining apps to younger audiences.

Subscription Trap Mining: Apps offering “free trials” that automatically charge $19.99-49.99 monthly for “premium mining speeds” while delivering no actual mining capability.

Recent cybersecurity research shows that over 180 fake mining apps were discovered across major app stores in 2025, with some accumulating more than 500,000 downloads before being removed.

Red flags that scream “scam” in 2025:

• Apps claiming “revolutionary mobile mining breakthrough”
• Promises of earning “$10-50 daily” from phone mining
• Requirements to recruit friends or watch ads to unlock withdrawals
• Apps that don’t require connecting to actual mining pools
• Testimonials that seem too polished or use stock photo models
• Apps requesting permissions unrelated to mining (contacts, camera, microphone)

The 2025 Professional Mining Landscape

To understand why, consider what professional bitcoin mining looks like in 2025. Industrial mining operations now resemble high-tech data centers with:

Cutting-edge hardware:

• Bitmain Antminer S23 Pro: 280 TH/s at 4,800W
• MicroBT WhatsMiner M56S++: 250 TH/s at 4,500W
• Canaan AvalonMiner A1566: 185 TH/s at 3,420W

Infrastructure requirements:

• Megawatt-scale power contracts with industrial electricity rates
• Liquid cooling systems maintaining 24/7 optimal temperatures
• Redundant internet connections ensuring zero downtime
• Professional facility management with 24/7 monitoring

For a small operation, you might need at least $10,000 to $20,000 to buy a few ASIC miners, set up cooling systems, and cover electricity costs. These operations employ teams of engineers, maintain relationships with power companies, and operate with margins measured in single-digit percentages.

2025’s Legitimate Mobile Bitcoin Strategies

While it remains impossible to mine bitcoin on your phone profitably, 2025 offers exciting legitimate ways to engage with bitcoin through your smartphone:

Lightning Network Participation: Apps like Phoenix, Breez, and Zeus allow you to run Lightning nodes on mobile devices, earning small routing fees while supporting bitcoin’s payment layer.

Bitcoin DCA Automation: Services enable automated dollar-cost averaging with amounts as small as $1 daily. Historical data shows $10 weekly bitcoin purchases consistently outperform any mobile mining attempt by 1,500-2,000%.

Educational Mining Simulators: Legitimate apps like “Bitcoin Mining Simulator” teach mining concepts without false earning promises. These educational tools help users understand hash rates, difficulty adjustments, and mining economics.

Stacking Sats Rewards: Apps offering bitcoin rewards for shopping, learning, or completing tasks.

Lightning Gaming: Bitcoin-native mobile games where players can earn sats through skilled gameplay, with some players earning $10 monthly.onfirm that even the most optimized mobile mining setups in 2025 lose money consistently and predictably.

The Bottom Line

When you mine bitcoin on your phone fundamental economics remain unchanged: it’s impossible to profit. The laws of physics, network competition, and energy efficiency create insurmountable barriers that no app can overcome.

However, 2025 offers unprecedented opportunities to engage with bitcoin meaningfully through your smartphone. Focus on education, legitimate earning opportunities, and strategic investment rather than chasing the impossible dream of phone-based mining.

The bitcoin community’s greatest strength lies in its commitment to truth over hype. When someone promises profits to mine bitcoin on your phone in 2025, they’re either uninformed or deliberately misleading you. Trust the mathematics, learn from the community, and build your bitcoin knowledge and holdings through proven methods.

The real opportunity in 2025 isn’t to mine bitcoin on your phone—it’s understanding bitcoin deeply enough to participate confidently in the most important monetary revolution of our lifetime. Your smartphone is the perfect tool for that education; it’s just not a mining rig.

@ 6bcc27d2:b67d296e

yugoです。 この記事は「Nostrasia2024 逆アドベントカレンダー」10/19の分です。Nostrasiaの当日はリアルタイムで配信を視聴していました。Nostrを使ってアプリケーションの再発明をすべきという発表を聴き、自分だったらどんなものを作ってみたいかを考えて少し調べたり試みたりしたのでその記録を書きます。また、超簡単なものですがおそらく世界初となるvisionOS対応のNostrクライアントをつくってみたので最後の方に紹介します。

アプリケーションを再発明する話があったのは、「What is Nostr Other Stuff?」と題したkaijiさんの発表でした。

Nostrプロトコルを使って既存のアプリケーションを再発明することで、ユーザ体験を損なわずにゆるやかな分散を促すことができ、プロトコルとしてのNostrも成長していくというような内容でした。

自分はまだNostrで何かをつくった経験はなかったので、実装に必要な仕様の知識がほとんどない状態からどのようなアプリケーションをつくってみたいかを考えました。

最初に思いついたのは、Scrapboxのようなネットワーク型のナレッジベースです。自分は最近visionOS勉強会をやっており、勉強会でナレッジを共有する手段としてScrapboxの導入を検討していました。

Nostrコミュニティにも有志によるScrapboxがありますが、Nostrクライアントがあればそれを使うだろうから同じくらいの実用性を備えたクライアントはまだ存在しないのではないかという見立てでした。

長文投稿やpublic chatなどの機能を組み合わせることで実現できるだろうか。そう思っていた矢先、NIP-54のWikiという規格があることを知りました。

https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/54.md

まだちゃんとは読めていないですが、Scrapboxもwikiソフトウェアだし参考になりそうと思っています。正式な仕様に組み込まれていないようで、採用しているクライアントはfiatjafによるリファレンス実装(?)のwikistrくらいしか見つかりませんでした。

Scrapboxのようなナレッジベースを志向するNostrクライアントがあれば、後述するvisionOS対応クライアントの存在もありアカウントを使いまわせて嬉しいので試してみたいです。もし他にも似たようなサービスをどなたか知っていたら教えてください。

また現在は、勉強会やワークショップ、ハッカソンなどのコラボレーションワークを支援するためのツールを自分たちでも開発しています。Apple Vision Proに搭載されているvisionOSというプラットフォームで動作します。

https://image.nostr.build/14f0c1b8fbe5ce7754825c01b09280a4c22f87bbf3c2fa6d60dd724f98919c34.png

この画面で自分が入りたいスペースを選んで共有体験を開始します。

スライドなどのコンテンツや自らのアバターを同期させることで、遠隔地にいてもまるでオフラインかのように同じ空間を共有することが可能になります。

https://image.nostr.build/cfb75d3db2a9b9cd39f502d6426d5ef4f264b3d5d693b6fc9762735d2922b85c.jpg

ということなので、急遽visionOS対応のクライアントを作ってみました。検索しても1つも事例が出てこなかったので多分まだ世界で実装しているアプリはないのではないでしょうか。

とはいえ、クライアントを名乗っているもののまだ大した機能はなく、リレーからデータを取得するだけの読み取り専用です。

https://image.nostr.build/96e088cc6a082528682989ccc12b4312f9cb6277656e491578e32a0851ce50fe.png

画像では自分のプロフィールデータをリレーから取得しています。

まだどのライブラリもvisionOSに対応していなかったりで手こずったものの仕様の勉強になりました。

ただvisionOSアプリはiOSアプリ同様NIP-7が使えないので秘密鍵を自分で保管しなくてはならず、今後どう対処すべきかわかりかねています。これから時間ある時に少しずつ調べていこうと思っていますが、ネイティブアプリの秘密鍵周りはあまりリソースが多くないようにも感じました。もしどなたかその辺の実装に詳しい方いたら教えていただけると嬉しいです。

準備ができたらそのうちコードも公開したいと思っています。

これから少しずつ色んな機能を実装しながらNostrで遊んでいきたいです！

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

Over the past few months, I've dedicated my time to a complete rewrite of the kycnot.me website. The technology stack remains unchanged; Golang paired with TailwindCSS. However, I've made some design choices in this iteration that I believe significantly enhance the site. Particularly to backend code.

UI Improvements

You'll notice a refreshed UI that retains the original concept but has some notable enhancements. The service list view is now more visually engaging, it displays additional information in a more aesthetically pleasing manner. Both filtering and searching functionalities have been optimized for speed and user experience.

Service pages have been also redesigned to highlight key information at the top, with the KYC Level box always accessible. The display of service attributes is now more visually intuitive.

The request form, especially the Captcha, has undergone substantial improvements. The new self-made Captcha is robust, addressing the reliability issues encountered with the previous version.

Terms of Service Summarizer

A significant upgrade is the Terms of Service summarizer/reviewer, now powered by AI (GPT-4-turbo). It efficiently condenses each service's ToS, extracting and presenting critical points, including any warnings. Summaries are updated monthly, processing over 40 ToS pages via the OpenAI API using a self-crafted and thoroughly tested prompt.

Nostr Comments

I've integrated a comment section for each service using Nostr. For guidance on using this feature, visit the dedicated how-to page.

Database

The backend database has transitioned to pocketbase, an open-source Golang backend that has been a pleasure to work with. I maintain an updated fork of the Golang SDK for pocketbase at pluja/pocketbase.

Scoring

The scoring algorithm has also been refined to be more fair. Despite I had considered its removal due to the complexity it adds (it is very difficult to design a fair scoring system), some users highlighted its value, so I kept it. The updated algorithm is available open source.

Listings

Each listing has been re-evaluated, and the ones that were no longer operational were removed. New additions are included, and the backlog of pending services will be addressed progressively, since I still have access to the old database.

API

The API now offers more comprehensive data. For more details, check here.

About Page

The About page has been restructured for brevity and clarity.

Other Changes

Extensive changes have been implemented in the server-side logic, since the whole code base was re-written from the ground up. I may discuss these in a future post, but for now, I consider the current version to be just a bit beyond beta, and additional updates are planned in the coming weeks.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Coinbase Announces Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card, Offering up to 4% BTC Back on Everything

Coinbase is launching its first-ever branded credit card in partnership with American Express, set to roll out this fall. Called the Coinbase One Card, it will be available only to U.S. members of Coinbase One, the platform’s monthly subscription service. The card will offer 2% to 4% back in Bitcoin on everyday purchases, along with access to American Express perks.  

JUST IN: Coinbase launches credit card allowing users to earn up to 4% bitcoin back on every purchase pic.twitter.com/d6pdNZV4pi

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 12, 2025

This is a first-of-its-kind product for Coinbase, which previously only offered a prepaid debit card with Visa in 2020. 

“We see real potential in the combination of Coinbase and crypto with the powerful backing of American Express, and what the card offers is an excellent mix of what customers are looking for right now,” said Will Stredwick, head of American Express global network services, during the Coinbase State of Crypto Summit in New York.

The card is part of a larger push by Coinbase to expand its subscription-based services. Coinbase One costs $29.99/month and includes zero trading fees, higher staking rewards, and customer support perks. The company also announced a cheaper version—Coinbase Basic—for $4.99/month or $49.99/year, which includes fewer features.

Coinbase’s subscription business is growing fast. It brought in $698.1 million in Q1 2025, compared to $1.26 billion in trading revenue. According to William Blair analyst Andrew Jeffrey, this kind of recurring revenue is a big reason why long-term investors are sticking with the stock.

Launched in 2023, Coinbase One now has over a million members. The company has been steadily growing its ecosystem with products like its Base developer platform and a self-custody wallet. 

The company has long positioned Bitcoin at the center of its strategy—offering BTC custody services to institutions, supporting Bitcoin ETFs, integrating Bitcoin rewards into its products, and actively advocating for Bitcoin-friendly regulation in Washington. Coinbase also supports Bitcoin development directly through funding grants and engineering support. As the largest publicly traded crypto exchange in the U.S., Coinbase continues to frame Bitcoin not just as an asset, but as the foundation of its long-term vision.

This post Coinbase Announces Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card, Offering up to 4% BTC Back on Everything first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

Silent.link is an anonymous eSIM provider. They offer pay-as-you-go roaming in 160+ countries.

Pros

• Anonymous
• Private payment options
• High performance
• Global availability

Cons

• Need to select the right networks sometimes
• Latency
• Data and incoming SMS & call only

Rating

★★★★★

Service website

Silent.link

---

eSIMs replace traditional, physical SIM cards, if you have a fairly new phone, odds are it supports them. Since most people change their mobile carrier very rarely, the most common use case for these new eSIMs is their use in travel. Although their use as a piece of a larger OPSEC puzzle to improve privacy when using the internet from your phone is increasingly popular too.

Silent.link is not the only eSIM provider out there. Yet, they’re so unique that even Twitter’s (now X) founder Jack Dorsey recommends them.

Let’s start off with a quick explanation of how Silent.link works and what pay-as-you-go means. Most other eSIM providers will sell you packages of GBs with an expiration date. For instance imagine you’re visiting France then going to the UK after a few months. With other providers you might buy a 10GB in France package valid for 7 days, then after some months a 10GB in the UK package also valid for 7 days. You likely won’t use up the full package in either country and the remaining capacity will be voided as the package expires.

Silent.link’s pay-as-you-go is different. There are no geographic packages. There are no expiration dates. You simply have a balance denominated in USD and are charged as you use up the data according to the pricing of whichever local carrier you’re connecting via.

Preparing for the same trips from the example above you’d simply top-up your Silent.link balance with $10. Then you’d use Silent.link in France paying $1.33/GB, you’d only be charged for the exact amount used, then you’d go to the UK and pay $1.54/GB from the balance you had left over from France. It doesn’t matter how much time passes between the trips, because Silent.link balances don’t expire. If you have a balance left over you can use it on a future trip, or simply use it up in your home country.

---

Pros

Anonymity

Silent.link is anonymous. Most other eSIM providers require some form of identification. This can be a traditional, full KYC, procedure involving your ID or passport numbers or, as seemingly innocent, as verifying your phone number with your main carrier. Regardless, a link between the eSIM you bought online and your identity is established.

In some countries you’ll be able to pick up a traditional SIM (or the new eSIM) from a local carrier without undergoing this verification. This can still be a hassle though. You’ll need to look up the laws before travelling, you’ll need to find a local store selling them, you’ll need to decide how you’ll pay privately, etc. And that’s the best case, that’s assuming the country you want to get the SIM in allows you to buy one anonymously.

Private payment methods

Silent.link only accepts cryptocurrency and according to their stats, most payments are made with Bitcoin (either onchain or using the Lightning Network) or with Monero. As such paying anonymously is not a problem. The use a self-hosted instance of BTCPay Server to process payments and operate their own LN node. The entire checkout process can be completed over Tor.

---

Cons

Network selection

Although you can skip the hassle of buying a new eSIM every time you travel it’s a good idea to look up the pricing of different mobile networks in the country you’re going to. The differences can be trivial, but can also be 100x. If a specific mobile network offers a much better deal, you’ll probably want to dive into your phone’s settings to make sure it only connects to that network.

High prices for some regions

Second issue can be that, especially for poorer countries, Silent.link might not have the best prices. For instance if you travel to Angola you’ll end up paying $155.44/GB. But if you search around for other providers you’ll find eSIM that offer much lower prices for that same country.

Data & incoming SMS & calls only

These eSIMs are either data-only or only offer data and inbound sms and calls. You can’t use Silent.link eSIMs to send texts or make phone calls.

Latency

For most use-cases this shouldn’t matter, but the way roaming works is that when you’re abroad your data is first sent to your home country then sent out into the internet from there. For instance if you’re a Brit on holiday in Spain wherever you open up a website your phone communicates with the Spanish network who forwards the request to your home network in the UK and only there does the request start going towards the website you’re trying to load. The response takes the same path in reverse.

The home network for the Silent.link eSIMs is Poland. To take an extreme (antipodal) example, if you’re in Chile loading a Chilean website your request will go to Poland then back from Poland to the website’s server in Chile, then the response will go from Chile to Poland to you (in Chile). All those trips add latency. In our testing, done during the recent OrangeFren.com meetup in Istanbul, the difference was an additional 73ms. The bandwidth, however, was exceptional, easily surpassing 100 Mbps.

This latency issue isn’t unique to Silent.link, other eSIM providers usually suffer from it too, though their home network may be better suited for your latency needs. If you need the best latency we recommend a SIM from a local provider (or WiFi).

This proxy behaviour isn’t all negative however. It may potentially allow you to circumvent censorship or geoblocking if you’re trying to access resources available from Poland, but unavailable elsewhere.

Besides Istanbul one of the countries we also tested Silent.link in was Northern Cyprus. This territory is mostly unrecognized. It’s a country that, depending on who you ask, is or isn’t real. Despite this unresolved geopolitical status Silent.link performed without any issues.

---

Installation

If you decide to give Silent.link a try, you'll need to select if you want a data-only plan or a plan with inbound SMS & calling, once you complete the payment simply scan the QR code on the order confirmation page with your phone. Make sure to save the url of that order confirmation page somewhere! You will need it to top up your eSIM and check your remaining balance.

Getting in touch

The preferred way of contacting Silent.link's support is using the website's built-in chat function. Alternative methods include X (formerly Twitter), Matrix and email.

Their support is online from 09:00 - 21:00 UTC although even when testing outside of those hours we got a reply within a minute.

NOTE: These reviews are sponsored, yet the sponsorship does not influence the outcome of the evaluations. Sponsored reviews are independent from the kycnot.me list, being only part of the blog. The reviews have no impact on the scores of the listings or their continued presence on the list. Should any issues arise, I will not hesitate to remove any listing.

@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d

O mercado imobiliário português está a viver uma enorme bolha. É tão grave, está se tornando mais que uma crise de habitação, mas sim uma crise geracional. Os jovens portugueses não conseguem comprar casa, acabam por adiar indefinidamente a criação da família ou ter filhos, ou então a solução mais fácil é emigrar. Esta crise está a condenar a gerações mais novas e sem os mais novos, condenamos o futuro do país.

Problema

A origem do problema é o excesso de procura/demanda, Portugal ficou na moda, o turismo cresceu exponencialmente, quase diariamente são inaugurados novos hotéis nos centros das cidades e também houve um forte crescimento Alojamento Local(Airbnb). Tudo isto removeu muitas casas do mercado.

Além disso, Portugal tornou-se num destino para aposentados de outros países, sobretudo do norte da Europa e de nómadas digitais, que têm um poder de compra muito elevado, muito superior aos locais.

Para complicar ainda mais, nos últimos 5 anos houve uma imigração descontrolada, em plena crise de habitação, a população aumentou 20%. Com tanta gente nova, onde vai morar tanta gente?

Todos os portugueses, sobretudo nos grandes centros, conhecem casos de casas sobrelotadas, 10 ou 20 ou 30 pessoas a viver na mesma casa. É desumano, é uma escravatura moderna. Depois estas pessoas fazem concorrência desleal, porque eles podem pagar rendas de casas altas, o custo é dividido por 20 pessoas, enquanto os jovens casais portugueses não conseguem pagar.

Não existe um único problema, é uma soma de vários problemas, que gera uma enorme bolha.

Oferta

Tudo isto resultou num aumento da procura por habitação, mas como em tudo na economia, sempre que existe um aumento da procura, posteriormente o mercado ajusta-se, com o aumento da oferta, só que isso não está a acontecer.

A oferta de nova habitação é extremamente baixa, é insuficiente para o volume da procura. Até parece estranho, se o preço das casas estão muito elevadas, porque razão os promotores imobiliários não constroem mais?

Aqui está a razão da crise da habitação do mercado português, parece um problema sem solução.

A burocracia, a falta de terrenos, os impostos altos, falta de trabalhadores, tudo isto contribui para a crise na oferta, mas estes problemas sempre existiram em Portugal, não é uma coisa de hoje. Há 15 anos, mesmo com esses mesmo problemas, o mercado florescia, claramente dificultava mas não foram um entrave.

A meu ver, o problema está no financiamento.

Até à crise do subprime, os promotores imobiliários financiavam-se, quase em exclusividade na banca, com o juro muito baixo. Durante a crise, os casos mais problemáticos de crédito malparado foram de promotoras imobiliárias e de empresas de construção civil.

A crise do subprime e posteriormente a crise das dívidas soberanas, levou a UE a criar novas regras bancárias, onde criou muitas restrições ao acesso ao crédito por parte das empresas. Essas novas regras, que limitou o acesso ao crédito, provocaram uma alteração no modelo de financiamento das promotoras imobiliárias. Em vez de se financiarem na banca, os promotores vendiam primeiro as casas, antes de as construir. As promotoras recebiam parte do dinheiro e com esse dinheiro, financiavam a obra.

O modelo funcionou até ao pós pandemia, a impressão de dinheiros por parte dos governos foi monstruosa, criando uma forte inflação. Essa inflação provocou uma forte subida de preço nos materiais de construção e na mão de obra. Como as promotoras venderam as casas anteriormente, o valor que venderam as casas não foi suficiente para cobrir os novos custos da construção. Este problema provocado pela inflação, não afetou apenas o imobiliário, mas sim toda a economia, foram milhares de obras, por todo o país que não foram concluídas, as empresas faliram.

Este problema de financiamento, afecta sobretudo o mercado imobiliário da classe média, onde o custo é mais controlado, onde as empresas têm uma menor margem de lucro, o mínimo erro pode provocar uma falência. Por esse motivo, mas empresas de construção estão a preferir construir, o imobiliário de luxo, onde a margem de lucro é superior, minimiza a margem de erro. Mas o grande problema, é que falta habitação para a classe média.

A inflação é um grande problema, gera muita instabilidade nas empresas, torna-se imprevisível fazer um orçamento. Se a inflação é um forte contribuidor para o problema da habitação em Portugal e em breve teremos mais uma emissão massiva de novo dinheiro, por parte do BCE, parece um problema sem solução. As empresas terão que arranjar um novo método de financiamento, ou adaptar-se à inflação. Uma coisa é quase certa, na próxima década vamos ter alta inflação, porque é a única maneira para evitar o colapso dos governos, devido às enormes dívidas soberanas.

Procura/demanda

A resolução do problema do aumento da oferta é tão complexo, os governos vão optar pelo caminho mais fácil e populista, atacar a procura.

Nos próximos anos, os governos vão aprovar medidas mais autoritárias e antidemocráticas para minimizar o problema. Medidas como impedir os estrangeiros ou não residentes de adquirirem casas, impostos muito altos para 2° habitação, para forçar a venda ou o arrendamento, os Airbnb também serão um alvo.

Em suma, quem tiver uma casa como reserva de valor, para fugir à inflação, será declarada persona non grata.

Fix the money, Fix the world!

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Nostr: a quick introduction, attempt #2

Nostr doesn't subscribe to any ideals of "free speech" as these belong to the realm of politics and assume a big powerful government that enforces a common ruleupon everybody else.

Nostr instead is much simpler, it simply says that servers are private property and establishes a generalized framework for people to connect to all these servers, creating a true free market in the process. In other words, Nostr is the public road that each market participant can use to build their own store or visit others and use their services.

(Of course a road is never truly public, in normal cases it's ran by the government, in this case it relies upon the previous existence of the internet with all its quirks and chaos plus a hand of government control, but none of that matters for this explanation).

More concretely speaking, Nostr is just a set of definitions of the formats of the data that can be passed between participants and their expected order, i.e. messages between clients (i.e. the program that runs on a user computer) and relays (i.e. the program that runs on a publicly accessible computer, a "server", generally with a domain-name associated) over a type of TCP connection (WebSocket) with cryptographic signatures. This is what is called a "protocol" in this context, and upon that simple base multiple kinds of sub-protocols can be added, like a protocol for "public-square style microblogging", "semi-closed group chat" or, I don't know, "recipe sharing and feedback".

@ 0176967e:1e6f471e

Objavte, ako avatari a pseudonymné identity ovplyvňujú riadenie kryptokomunít a decentralizovaných organizácií (DAOs). V tejto prednáške sa zameriame na praktické fungovanie decentralizovaného rozhodovania, vytváranie a správu avatarových profilov, a ich rolu v online reputačných systémoch. Naučíte sa, ako si vytvoriť efektívny pseudonymný profil, zapojiť sa do rôznych krypto projektov a využiť svoje aktivity na zarábanie kryptomien. Preskúmame aj príklady úspešných projektov a stratégie, ktoré vám pomôžu zorientovať sa a uspieť v dynamickom svete decentralizovaných komunít.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

Jump straight to the rules

Getting services and paying with cryptocurrencies is really cool. However, it comes with some risks that every user must understand. This guide will give you a clear look at the risks and the simple steps you can take to reduce them.

The risks

Transactions are Irreversible

Cryptocurrency transactions are final and irreversible. Once you hit send, there's no chargeback option, no bank to call, and no dispute resolution (unless the recipient voluntarily returns your funds). This creates opportunities for bad actors to exploit.

---

Shotgun KYC

One of the most predatory practices in the crypto space is Shotgun KYC (classified as level 3 on KYCnot.me). Here's how it typically unfolds:

1. You send your cryptocurrency to a service
2. After receiving your funds, they suddenly claim your coins are "dirty" or flagged
3. They hold your funds hostage, demanding extensive documentation
4. Even after compliance, they may continue requesting more information indefinitely until you can't no longer provide what they are requesting
5. Your funds remain frozen with no guarantee of release

---

Transaction Scanning

Most crypto services use blockchain analysis to scan your coins' transaction history, assigning risk scores based on past associations. A low score doesn't mean you did anything wrong, you could have unknowingly received "tainted" coins from a simple P2P trade, inheriting a history that wasn't your fault.

---

Other Concerns

• Limited Support: Many services operate with very small teams or even just a single person, offering minimal customer service. Even established services may ignore customer complaints or disputes.
• Exit Scams: A service that was apparently trustworthy and processing orders can disappear overnight, taking users' funds with them.
• No Regulatory Recourse: Very limited legal protections compared to traditional financial services

The rules

Rule #1: Batch Your Amounts

Avoid sending a large amount in a single transaction, instead, divide your trades into smaller batches. If something goes wrong with one batch, you haven't lost everything. Always remember that crypto transactions are final and irreversible.

Some services scam users selectively: they process smaller transactions normally to build trust, then freeze larger amounts when they detect high-value transfers.

Yes, batching means paying more fees, but it's almost always worth paying the extra rather than losing your entire amount to a scam or frozen trade.

A surprising number of people report losing significant funds in a single, large transaction. Start small, build confidence through successful transactions, and always maintain reasonable batch sizes even with "trusted" services.

---

Rule #2: Record Everything

When problems arise, services tend to mysteriously "lose" records, delete order pages, or even deny entire conversations. Keeping good records become very valuable against fraud and negligence.

Take screenshots and save them until you are satisfied with the service:

• Ensure timestamps are visible when possible
• Capture full pages, not just portions
• Make sure the URL is always visible

You can also use websites like archive.is to take snapshots of each step of the process, or use the Single File browser extension to snapshot the entire site in a single html file. This extension will preserve exact page appearance, includes all embedded content and is easy to share and store. For email conversations, exporting the raw .eml file is best, as it retains all the original headers and metadata.

Make sure to keep all the blockchain evidence, such as transaction IDs and wallet addresses.

Remember: If it's not documented, it didn't happen in the eyes of dispute resolution. Make documentation a habit. This will grant you evidence for contacting support if there was an issue, and in the event of being scammed, effectively reporting the scam to the community.

---

Rule #3: Do Your Own Research

A quick investigation before operating with a service can save you from costly mistakes and frozen funds.

For service reviews, a starting point can be KYCnot.me. It's also wise to check popular forums like BitcoinTalk, TrustPilot, or Reddit. To search on specific sites, you can use site keyword on any search engine, for example, this shows all mentions of "Bisq" on BitcoinTalk.

If you are about to use a service without existing reviews, you're taking a risk, but you could help others by documenting it. Write a detailed review and add supporting evidence to increase your credibility. Your feedback will help building a knowledge base that protects the community from bad actors and unreliable services. Leaving reviews on KYCnot.me is very easy and does not require any personal data.

Spend at least five minutes researching any new service before sending funds. This small time investment can reveal crucial information about reliability, processing times, and potential issues.

---

Rule #4: Ask for AML Checks

Most services will offer you a free AML score check before sending your funds, but they rarely advertise this. If you're dealing with a service known for freezing funds, requesting a pre-transaction AML check can save you from having your cryptocurrency held hostage.

Simply contact the service's support before sending any funds and explain your situation:

"I'd like to use your service but want to avoid KYC. Can you perform an AML check on my transaction before I send the funds?"

This check should always be free, if they ask for payment, consider it a red flag.

Never send funds to a third party to get an AML check. To prepare for the check, it's best to consolidate the funds into a single address in your own wallet. Then, you only need to share that public address for the analysis. Your funds should never leave your possession.

DIY AML Checking Options

You can also run these checks yourself using services like AMLBot (paid service) or the free AML scanners available in Blockchair's dApps section. These tools analyze your transaction history and provide risk scores based on various algorithms.

However, different AML services use different algorithms and metrics, so you might get varying risk scores for the same transaction. As you see in the image above, one service would flag your coins as medium-risk while another considers them clean. So to be 100% sure, it is always better to ask the service you want to interact with for the pre-trade AML check rather than checking it yourself.

Taking a few minutes to request an AML check can prevent problems like the permanent loss of your funds. A service that respects your privacy will have no problem with this reasonable request.

---

Rule #5: Seek fungibility

To protect yourself from arbitrary fund freezing and "dirty coin" accusations, simply use privacy coins whenever possible. While transparent blockchains expose your entire transaction history to scrutiny, privacy coins make these predatory scanning practices completely useless.

Traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum operate on transparent blockchains where every transaction is publicly visible forever. This means not all coins are treated equally. A Bitcoin you received might be worth less than another Bitcoin simply because of its transaction history, even when you had nothing to do with that history.

Even if you try to break the history with mixers or coinjoins, you are leaving patterns that will also taint the coins. Once they are marked as "tainted" by blockchain analysis, that reputation follows them indefinitely, you can even be penalized for transactions that occurred years before you owned the cryptocurrency, creating an unfair system of inherited blame.

Monero's privacy-by-default architecture makes transaction scanning impossible. Legitimate services that respect user privacy usually welcome privacy coins. Services that discriminate against privacy coins often have ulterior motives.

Using privacy coins is often simpler because you don't need to worry about coin history or risk scores. So, any chance you get to use a privacy coin such as Monero, just do it.

Conclusion

Even by following all these rules, you're still assuming a certain level of risk. However, by following these simple safety measures, you will dramatically reduce your exposure to scams, fund freezes, and predatory practices. And, if a problem occurs, having good evidence is your best defense. Records like screenshots and transaction histories are essential for resolving disputes and reporting scams to protect others.

@ 93bfc86d:fc8e91f5

M of N 분산

이번 5월 BSL 컨퍼런스와 비트코인 서울 2025 컨퍼런스에서 펜락(Penlock) 프로젝트에 참여하고 있는 한 분을 만났다. 아마 이 분을 만난 한국인 분들이 더 있을 텐데, 현재는 익명을 원하시므로 프라이버시 보호를 위해 실명을 언급하는 것은 주의하는 것이 좋겠다.

키를 M of N으로 분산하는 방식 중 내가 알고 있는 건 멀티시그와 샤미르 분산이다.

멀티시그는 각자가 키를 생성하지만,

1. 스크립트 길이가 길어지고, 스크립트를 해시로 감싼다고 해도 일반 주소보다 길다.

2. 일반적인 P2MS는 공개키가 드러나므로 프라이버시 보장이 안 되고, P2SH로 감싸도 서명할 때 각자의 공개키가 드러난다(리딤 스크립트가 드러나므로).

이런 특징을 갖고 있다.

샤미르 분산은 하나의 키를 분산하는 방식이므로,

1. 키를 복원했을 때는 결국 하나의 키가 생성되므로 키가 복원되었을 때 보안에 매우 주의해야 한다.

2. 하지만 외부에서 볼 때는 어떤 방식으로 분할이 되었는지 알 수가 없으므로 프라이버시에 좋다.

이런 특징을 갖고 있다.

M of N은 회사에서의 권한 분산, 상속, 위험 지점 분산, 신뢰 지점 분산 등에 사용할 수 있을 것이다. 하지만 나는 멀티시그와 샤미르 분산이 둘 다 M of N을 구현하지만 그 특성이 약간 다르기 때문에 적합한 용처도 다르다고 생각한다. 만약 한 기업이 여러 이사진의 의사결정 과정에서 권한을 분산해야 한다면 멀티시그 방식이 훨씬 나을 것이다. 이사 각각이 서명하면 되기 때문이다. 여기다가 샤미르 분산을 쓴다면 이사 몇 명이 모여 키 하나를 생성했을 때 쪼개기 전의 원래 하나의 키가 생기므로 권한 분산에 차질이 생길 수 있다. 그 키를 갖는 사람이 갑자기 모든 권한을 가질 수 있게 되기 때문이다. 거꾸로 한 개인이 키를 백업하고자 하는데 키를 분실하거나 화재나 기타 재난 등의 이유로 파괴될 것에 대비하여 여러 장소에 분산하여 보관하고 싶다면 샤미르 분산이 더 적합할 것이다. 키 조각들을 합쳐서 원래 키가 생겼을 때 그 키는 어차피 한 개인이 쓰는 것이므로 권한 구조가 갑자기 한 곳으로 몰리는 것에 대해 걱정할 필요가 없기 때문이다.

그런데 샤미르 분산은 멀티시그보다 직관적이진 않은 것 같다. 멀티시그는 스크립트 구조를 보면 바로 어떤 구조인지 알 수 있다. 손으로 따라 쓸 수도 있는 수준이다. 하지만 트레저가 도입한 샤미르 분산인 SLIP-0039 같은 형식은 직관적이지가 않다. 일단 샤미르 분산이 다항함수를 통한 비밀 분산을 쓰는 원리라는 걸 이해해야 하고(키 조각이 부족하면 부정방정식이 되어서 복구 불가), 그걸 통해 복구하는 과정에서 사용하는 라그랑주 보간법이 인간이 손으로 계산하기에는 너무 어렵다. 키를 분할하고 복구하는 과정이 수학적인 함수 공간에서 정의되고, 사용자는 키 조각들만 보게 되므로 내부 구조에 대해 직관적으로 이해하기가 어렵다.

오프라인 손 계산과 직관적 이해

조금 다른 주제로 넘어가보자. 나는 기술의 사용자들이 그 기술을 '직관'적으로 이해할 수 있는 지가 매우 중요하다고 생각한다. 비트코인 경험에는 특히 '검증'이 중요한데 어떤 기술을 직관적으로 이해할 수 없다면 검증은 전문가들만의 전유물이 되기 때문이다.

예를 들어보자. 앨리스, 밥, 캐롤이 각각 니모닉을 만들었다.

1. 앨리스는 기계가 생성해준 니모닉을 사용한다. 기계는 SE칩 내부에 있는 전자의 브라운 운동 등을 엔트로피로 이용해 랜덤한 엔트로피를 생성했다. 하지만 앨리스는 이 사실을 모르고, 따라서 기계를 신뢰해야 한다. 앨리스는 기계가 생성해 준 엔트로피가 충분히 랜덤하고 안전하다고 "믿고 있다." 사실이 그런지 아닌지와는 별개로 말이다.

2. 밥은 주사위를 던져서 만든 니모닉을 사용한다. 하지만 주사위를 던졌을 때 나온 값이 어떻게 니모닉으로 변환되는지는 모른다. 기계는 주사위를 던져 나온 숫자를 유니코드 문자열로 인식하여 SHA256을 한 번 돌린 뒤, 그 해시값을 엔트로피로 사용한다. 밥은 자신이 직접 주사위를 던졌으므로 엔트로피가 랜덤하게 생성되었다는 것은 직관적으로 알지만, 그 숫자가 어떻게 니모닉으로 계산된 건지는 모른다.

3. 캐롤은 직접 동전을 던져 0, 1을 기록하고 자신이 직접 니모닉 표를 보며 니모닉을 대응시켰다. 따라서 캐롤은 자신이 사용하는 니모닉이 랜덤하다는 것도 이해하고 있으며, 랜덤한 엔트로피를 어떻게 니모닉에 대응시키는지도 알고 있다.

세 가지 경우 중 누가 니모닉에 대해 가장 잘 직관적으로 이해하고 있겠는가? 당연히 3번 캐롤이다. 이렇듯 오프라인에서 동전을 던져 직접 엔트로피를 생성하고, 표를 보며 손으로 직접 니모닉에 대응시키는 과정은 니모닉을 직관적으로 이해하는 데 매우 중요하다.

솔직히 3번의 경우도 완전히 신뢰 지점이 없진 않다. 왜냐하면... 니모닉의 체크썸을 계산하는 과정에서 해싱을 해야 하기 때문이다. 손으로 SHA256 함수를 계산할 수 있는 게 아니라면... 캐롤은 어떤 기계에게 체크섬 생성을 맡길 수밖에 없다. 그러면 적어도 그 과정에 대한 이해의 폭은 제한될 수밖에 없다.

오프라인에서 계산하는 경험들이 왜 직관적인 이해에 더 도움이 될까? 그 과정들을 자신이 온전히 통제하기 때문이다. 기계에 맡겨야 하는 순간에는 그 기계 안에서 무엇이 일어나는지 알 수 없으며 따라서 자신의 통제 밖에 있다.

펜락 프로젝트

서론이 길었다! 다시 샤미르 분산 이야기로 돌아오겠다. 샤미르 분산을 '손으로 계산'해 키 조각을 만들고, 키 조각들을 모아 다시 오프라인에서 '손으로 계산'해 하나로 만들 수 있을까? 거의 불가능에 가까울 것이다!

그런데 이번에 BSL 컨퍼런스에서 펜락 프로젝트에 참여하고 있는 한 분을 우연히 만나 인사를 나눴고, 며칠 뒤 있는 비트코인 서울 컨퍼런스에서 그 분이 나한테 선물을 주셨다. 바로... 아래 사진의 회전판이다. 직접 가위로 자르고 핀을 꽂는 것까지 봤다(컨퍼런스 강연 중에 뒷자리에서 가위로 자르고 있어서 웃음을 참을 수가 없었다ㅋㅋㅋ). 나는 이 귀엽고 조악한 회전판을 처음 봤을 때 이 위력에 대해 알지 못했다...

이 펜락 프로젝트 회전판은... 샤미르 분산처럼 하나의 키를 키 조각으로 나누고, 그 키 조각들을 오프라인에서 원래 키로 복구할 수 있게 만들어준다. 이게 작동하는 걸 처음 봤을 때 나는 정말 정말 x21 엄청나게 놀랐다.

사용 방법을 간단히 말해보자면, 메인 키(니모닉)가 있으면 니모닉 한 단어의 앞 4개 문자만 적는다(이유는 다들 아실 거라 생각... 니모닉은 앞 4글자가 겹치는 경우가 없기 때문). 그 다음에 두 숫자를 뽑는다. 1–32까지의 숫자 한 장, 그리고 1–32까지의 숫자인데 흰 동그라미/검은 동그라미 나눠져있는 걸로 한 장(그러면 총 64가지 경우일 것이다). 그러면 32*64 = 2,048가지 경우가 나온다. 그리고 체크섬을 표에서 찾아 적는데, 솔직히 추가 체크썸이 왜 필요한 건지는 아직 이해를 못했다. 진짜로 이 오프라인 과정을 해보며 생길 수 있는 오류를 잡기 위한 체크썸인 것으로 이해된다.

어쨌든 하이라이트는 지금부터인데... 자, 니모닉에서 'F'라는 단어가 있다고 해보자. 그러면 아래 사진처럼 눈금을 F에다 둔다. 그 다음 랜덤한 숫자를 뽑는다. 그렇게 뽑은 숫자가 22이라고 해보자. 그러면 회전판 내부에서 22, 23, 24에 있는 문자를 각각 아래에 적는다. 이게 키 조각이다... F가 ① V, ② P, ③ J 이렇게 세 가지 조각으로 분할 된 거다.

이제 세 개의 키 조각 ① V, ② P, ③ J로 키를 복구하는 상황을 생각해보자. 만약 ③번 키 조각인 J가 화재로 날아가버렸다. 2 of 3이니 그래도 키 조각이 두 개만 있어도 복구할 수 있다. ①번 키 조각인 V와, ②번 키 조각인 P를 조합해 키를 복구해보겠다. 그러면 회전판을 움직여... P가 V를 바라보게 하면 된다. 사진에서 빨간 박스로 표시한 부분이다. 그러면 큰 눈금이 원래 키인 F를 가리키게 된다. 정말 미쳤다! 만약, ②번 키 조각 P와, ③번 키 조각 J가 있다면 J가 P를 바라보게 하면 된다. 만약 ③번 키 조각 J와, ①번 키 조각 V로 키 복구를 시도한다면 J가 V를 바라보게 하고, 대신 ③번이 ①번을 바라보게 하는 것처럼 순환하는 상황에는 큰 눈금이 아니라 내부 1번 네모칸을 읽어야 한다.

펜락 회전판의 뒷면을 보면 이걸 어떻게 구현했는지 대강 알 수가 있다. 펜락 프로젝트는 반지름을 조금씩 다르게 하고, 회전 각도를 서로소인 두 숫자를 이용해 글자들이 겹치지 않도록 구현한 걸로 보인다. 말로 설명했지만, 직접 해봐야 "미쳤다!" 소리가 저절로 나온다. 이거 직접 해보면 ~비속어가 나올 정도로~ 놀란다. 정말로.

펜락 프로젝트는 오픈 소스라고 하고, 최고 개발자는 ganrama이다(사이트는 아직 베타라서 내용들이 채워지고 있는 걸로 보인다ㅎㅎ).

https://github.com/ganrama

https://beta.penlock.io/

나는 비트코인에서 나오는 프로젝트들을 일단 의심부터 하고 보는 편이다. 그런데 펜락은 직관적으로 다 이해가 되기 때문에 현재는 우려할만한 점이 생각나지 않는다. 비트코인 프로젝트들 중에는 편리함, 보안, 프라이버시 중 무언가를 희생시키고 그걸 교묘히 감추려고 하거나 비즈니스 모델을 만들다가 초기의 정신을 잊는 경우가 많다. 그런데 이 프로젝트는 그에 해당할 만한 게 없는 것 같아서 일단 의심의 눈초리를 거두고 응원한다. 내가 오프라인에서 직접 키를 분할해보고, 조합해본 경험이 너무 강렬하게 작용했기 때문인 것 같다. 펜락 대표 개발자가 올해 하반기에 기회가 된다면 한국에서도 소개하고 싶다고 하니 계속 관심을 갖고 지켜보려고 한다.

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

1. Introduction

The 21st century is marked by a rare confluence of demographic, technological, and monetary regime shifts. As birth rates fall below replacement levels across advanced and many emerging economies, global population growth slows and begins to reverse. At the same time, automation, AI, and robotics are increasing productivity at an accelerating pace. Simultaneously, trust in central banks and fiat currencies is waning, giving rise to calls for a return to hard currencies (e.g., gold, Bitcoin) and decentralized monetary systems.

These trends pose stark challenges to existing economic theories and institutions. This paper explores their implications through two opposing lenses: Keynesian economics and Austrian (Misesian) economics.

---

2. The Keynesian Reaction: Deflation, Demand Collapse, and the Paradox of Thrift

2.1. Demand-Side Fragility in a Shrinking Population

Keynesian theory is rooted in the principle that aggregate demand drives output and employment. A declining population implies a falling consumption base, which directly reduces aggregate demand. Combined with increased longevity, this trend leads to a larger retired population disinclined to spend, creating persistent demand shortfalls.

2.2. Technological Unemployment and Reduced Income Velocity

Rapid productivity gains from AI and robotics may displace large segments of labor, leading to unemployment or underemployment. With fewer wage earners and heightened uncertainty, consumption slows further. Even if goods become cheaper, widespread income insecurity constrains the ability to buy them.

2.3. The Paradox of Thrift

In times of uncertainty, both individuals and businesses tend to save more. Keynes argued that if everyone saves, aggregate demand collapses because one person’s spending is another’s income. Thus, increased saving leads to lower incomes, which reduces saving in aggregate—a self-reinforcing contraction.

2.4. Retreat from Fiat and Central Banking: A Catastrophic Constraint

Abandoning fiat currency and central banking removes the government’s ability to perform countercyclical policy. Interest rates cannot be lowered below zero; money supply cannot be expanded to fill demand gaps. In such a regime, deflation becomes chronic, debt burdens rise in real terms, and recovery mechanisms are neutered.

Conclusion (Keynesian):
The combined effect of declining population, rising productivity, and a hard money transition is catastrophic. It leads to a deflationary spiral, mass unemployment, debt crises, and secular stagnation unless aggressively offset by expansive fiscal and monetary policy—tools unavailable in a hard currency system.

---

3. The Misesian Rebuttal: Market Coordination and the Natural Order of Decline

3.1. Savings as Capital Formation

Mises and the Austrian School reject the paradox of thrift. Savings are not lost demand; they are deferred consumption that funds capital investment. Increased saving, in a free market, lowers interest rates and reallocates resources toward longer-term, higher-order production.

3.2. Deflation as a Signal of Progress

Falling prices due to productivity gains are not a crisis but a benefit. Consumers gain real wealth. Entrepreneurs adjust cost structures. As long as wages and prices are flexible, deflation reflects abundance, not failure.

3.3. Population Decline as Economic Recalibration

A shrinking population reduces demand, yes—but it also reduces the labor supply. Wages rise in real terms. Capital intensity per worker increases. There is no systemic unemployment if labor markets are free and responsive.

3.4. Hard Currency as Restoration of Market Coordination

Transitioning to a hard currency purges fiat-induced malinvestment and restores the price mechanism. With no artificial credit expansion, capital is allocated based on real savings. Booms and busts are mitigated, and long-term planning becomes reliable.

Conclusion (Misesian):
There is no crisis. A hard currency, high-productivity, low-population economy stabilizes at a new equilibrium of lower consumption, higher capital intensity, and rising real wealth. Deflation is natural. Savings are the seed of future prosperity. Government interference, not market adaptation, is the threat.

---

4. Final Synthesis

The Keynesian and Misesian views diverge on first principles: Keynes sees demand shortfalls and rigidities requiring top-down correction, while Mises sees market-coordinated adaptation as sufficient and self-correcting. As the 21st century evolves, this ideological conflict will shape whether the transition leads to depression or renewal.

---

References

• Keynes, J.M. The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money
• Mises, L. Human Action
• Hayek, F.A. Prices and Production
• Böhm-Bawerk, E. Capital and Interest
• Friedman, M. A Program for Monetary Stability

@ a19caaa8:88985eaf

NostrをXのように使い始めて3か月が経った。最初は「ぷ　プロトコル？　ブロックチェーン？サーバー？　そもそも、ギットハブって？？」って謎だらけで、それでも利用できてしまうから「使えちゃって大丈夫かな」とすら思っていたけど、いちユーザーながら少しずつわかることが増えてきたから、この3か月間で覚えたこととかできるようになったことを、備忘録も兼ねてまとめてみる。といっても過去ツイ（便宜上）を集めてきただけだけど。初心を忘れたくない！！

---

• PCで始めて、スマホは後だったんだろうな nostr:note1q8t0spfhg9dc4h590jedd00a5pag5j44tv0vzu55004q8qjw7fkscecvkz

• iPhoneからNostore(拡張機能(NIP-??))を使ってSafariでlumilumiにログイン nostr:note1egt7y4a8wulu6kex40z0zqtgls0r9ups0q4npyrlmgd3f2swrcysrskp42 nostr:note15gjqzpnevft2h6ywlz2hzacsk6emlna5lwechcpwkx5n6fq8gs9qprfh6v ↑Damusをdisるな
  nostr:note1cn4aspxthcysjgwhyd3wwr6slsz57anwn2ep3th05lpa0yag6xrqm8x3lh やかましい　※用語解説：Nostrクライアントなどの名前です

• Nostore: 拡張機能(の、説明のscrapbox)
• nostter: https://nostter.app/about
• damus(for iOS): https://damus.io/
• lumilumi: https://lumilumi.app/about
• Rabbit(拡張機能必須): https://rabbit.syusui.net/

---

• 出会い nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqv33pxtldvmmdntqhv269r56zjadmhalpp660h3yc6gj8gxpuexvqyxhwumn8ghj77tpvf6jumt9qyghwumn8ghj7u3wddhk56tjvyhxjmcpp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqqyz9k4uamtpsy9rtfh4dpxez0n8vr7tufttz5x5v9j5vd3t76kapjwxk245u nostr:note10e6flvadpyfshtnplfnc83dunzjrgl4fl0uzrw70xt3ulf0nv2yqm4qjfa nostr:note1wwchrc7vz8fcp2jrknms5ascup9eux9fkd89jxhqy6d46mkr06ssmgrjhk ↓続き

• 3sats (zap)(NIP-?? kind:??) nostr:nevent1qqsw9sfvmaqy6ngvl98drg93e7sy08kfu2y4tuyj8m2mleftvcx5mqc8uyq3m nostr:note1zzs7qfemq7qaekxv0qjea24t6k4kvlla0m9lusep2ce38tef8gjqfgv7zu nostr:nevent1qqsz8m0c5drajst00x92uc8pjwxa40nd5hmzxu4vn3yhuzjkaqmk4fqa4lvkl nostr:note106n902n66lsfxck4fsu9dqkwmelnp06qqx96nzyqvp89c9v28apqzjcflw (急な意思表示)

  たゃ仕事中に熟考

• nostr:note1fj5mmtsk0nh0e23hez2dm4unweklrypm6s6n9ajwaug574dg7pqq8phvav nostr:note1wk0ugra9pyv0y0rmpql6sjgsavu634x53f4v4jztqluq02awxwhql8d8mf nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzq2aj4wlutzft00dg77x4x6pdjy7vnfzxk30pry5lpy6a3l0uks9aqyxhwumn8ghj77tpvf6jumt9qqsyt4yh934z6fd324z5hljwlx74nndfwetu04lnu8wcj0pkhkqlppqwpsmue ⚡3satsくれました

• ステータス　NIP-??kind:30315 nostr:note1p836vncvcxfvkqmpggxzf53q6kywxn443w2hytydr7pdvrca835s83nd2u nostr:nevent1qqsdu2mf3d5am8hpjj432yf0qmpfxuwy50pv9rx6q7pryz0axnj44dg0d7auc nostr:nevent1qqsyaypjm0a99g7626r28ct97jhjvt4kk4vyv63fphdz8guhsdtevsg4yvvhr nostr:nevent1qqswea28tdayxe67axzxmwjfc4jq664phrep82zhveg8f5c0nfd06mgwt0taw
  nostr:nevent1qqsqkt8pgpchqphgvv8hd6lxfv4ylx3xtu76x2psj7asm6z846amy3c3w2s2z nostr:note1657tlek0uulr5xa3jqc2sj2l0lm24q79m0984xhm9tnzyy9nsrksynxl6y みんなやさしすぎる　おｋじゃないねん　みんなありがとうございます
• バッジ　kind:?? nostr:nevent1qqst45zcjha92jy0raun59lm05haw24rpjpw6njae93qfyasgxppmjchuq2c0 nostr:nevent1qqstvtx67c74xztstc9hze62h25saycr2ktrkwknevkhy8glzf0g78sqge3fu こいつbotなんヤバい
  nostr:nevent1qqsv6k54yysjdrfpxxtlxhfuh56mhslx63xwfncfvvg8a8vug4az4vstjyey6 nostr:nevent1qqspgur97rvwtry6t9nc6gjm9p8taw2563u3lgqn4p32e2gmqe30xxqwz9d90 nostr:note15shchwfllja7k9nd428a7ts7xf0ggefwllk7rv6qq3guuztjvcfs80pe03
• カスタム絵文字(いっぱいある)(kind10030(使うやつ),kind30030(仕切り板みたいな)) nostr:note16qkqfhezksjxrkk5z4vca8qs42fr8z9awvny39fytl73gty64nrs738g7c nostr:note1xrrer5ayqg3meskga2uc9m2x0lg2dglr3dkaf3qukpjtftysn96qdq7uda nostr:note156fyw2e4w8f0cmu6xmkj7k7f39yh8zw4pq2q90l9llmtefmtu0ds6743zm nostr:note1zz288585z68a0xlm9pc6y4s48ghfdl8hg6zkfmslaj2k9v0nscpsae8m95 nostr:note17tcfuxu8h3ss3rzjpx3zwwnucqdpramnh0yd5j4vj3ee65dleyxqfhcwk7 nostr:note1tu8d06kyw9a4s7xrsu723xmu24f2y34shd6qzn9wpa2jz5ddcu5sa5nvpq
• ネームタグ？　kind:?? nostr:note1ck3h58hjm6z00xcxu6fmm2raujrzy8t5ajc7p76pwafl6e0ffdvqh3k07t
• ピン留め　kind:?? nostr:note18dfzlgaf4ugkxs5209556p53gl67d8hfkutvtm7qnprjlfnavf0sr98k2h nostr:note1mnz5xlu0wnrh2rhjucjmzv2p9ta6xm5e0hhg2p8kyhe2dkgul3qs09h98h
• リスト？　NIP-?? kind:30000 nostr:note1ug7lcgjpkac57a9wd27rjqwymv5cwczmuc4ezg5wweuzrxgwhddqzp3mwz nostr:note126ahjdpmy6alv7mfm5x0yupyty03w3knlwf03cyypguguqjwrxqqyk7ysp
• 長文投稿　kind30023(これ)NIP-?? nostr:note1qzt4xpwv63tac460ha2am9xfdys4l0p34g8q93tqyp8dckgf6lkqkrua73 nostr:note1cx6w82s6p735n765y5rurzu038qkly03t7pcf4u8r6z6yucgf8qspsnkt4
• Suno(上記音楽生成AI)が出力した曲の耳コピ nostr:note12pry99d4z8w3cnpzy46xlg2kpudzj09jpv4vjxt62l54gt4v8dqsvlwyxl
• Damusへのリンク共有？ nostr:note1y2uzgxz89lnnzqgj0ndj43qan34wv4cvx56srgzghezt07jc6g6qukddry nostr:note1hcnndcrmwjulzt07t4aelraptr7zyhjuf8ut3vg293j06fwn7fgqae0w0y
• 警告？　NIP-?? nostr:note1w6djak9hknd84ryz389jctrmx39eqm2xvwv97k4sk2m2c0akvmysuny8p4
• emoji kitchen (先述のnostterからすぐできます!他もできるかも) nostr:note1k5s6x4hglqwzqghajpl8r7g7t9q8t6uzv2cx92q26tkjcj8hm6rq8elxfu nostr:note1ue575wzjvun0zy4wg2lfv6unrcxnzd688980eur9mulak3msxqgsf2rw72 nostr:note1246rg8v3gvwpwhu5tgzdf2e8cwn77q65gkjt7yhyyqchcchpsduq6mrex7
• kind7のkind5 nostr:note1fwtplut4pshq55790rrf328gxqglrx2m77wkxhsfrpajrnxjnvkqwvlf7w 無事外せたというか、全部lumilumiでできることがわかったんだけど、その記録が見当たらなかった
• ハッシュタグ　NIP-?? kind:?? nostr:note13lfdgatre3v5hnxcst0hkcgm8guzlavu6vyxez6n4s09jl7setlsfq3fcf nostr:note1dllf6795ttv0sft4rlclf7zerfpher23z3ga26kyn9yfafffncls3z5n42

---

kind30023用クライアントまとめ

（拡張機能を使わずに使用した所感）
* makimono：署名方法→秘密鍵×/nsec.app〇　表示→編集画面で表示確認可、njumpとlumilumiのnaddrリンクあり　NIP-21→対応　kind5（削除）→流せない　kind30024→多分、流せない

• habla：署名方法→なし（秘密鍵ログインできない。nsec.appもなんか入れない（読み込みから進まない）。）read only　表示→シンプルだけど文字がデカい　nip-21→対応

• yakihonnne：署名方法→秘密鍵〇/nsec.app→試してない　kind30023の編集ができない（読み込みから進まない）。NIP-21試してない。

• flycat：署名方法→秘密鍵〇/nsec.app試してない　kind1も流せる　NIP-21→非対応　kind30024→Draftがあるけど、kind30024を流しているわけでは無さそう。キャッシュクリアして再ログインすると残ってない。　kind5→流せない。

• tagayasu：署名方法：秘密鍵×/ncec.app×/拡張機能のみ？（画像↓参照）　でも、なんか、全部できる。kind5も流せる。kind30024も。

※NIP-21はこうやって引用元のツイート（便宜上）を表示する決まり

| クライアント | 署名方法 | NIP-21 | 備考 | |--------------|-----------|--------|------| | makimono | 秘密鍵× / nsec.app〇 | 対応 | 編集画面で表示確認可。njump・lumilumiのnaddrリンクあり。kind5（削除）は送信不可。kind30024（下書き）も多分送信不可。 | | flycat | 秘密鍵〇 / nsec.app未確認 | 非対応 | kind1は送信可。Draft機能はあるがkind30024ではない（キャッシュ消すと消える）。kind5は送信不可。 | | habla | 秘密鍵× / nsec.app× | 対応 | 使い道は表示確認くらい。シンプルだけど文字が大きい。nsec.appからの読み込みも進まない。 | | yakihonnne | 秘密鍵〇 / nsec.app未確認 | 不明 | kind30023の編集が読み込みで止まる。NIP-21対応は未確認。 | | tagayasu | 秘密鍵× / nsec.app×（拡張機能のみ？） | 不明 | 拡張ログインさえあれば全部できる。kind5・kind30024も送信可能。 |

• 未確認を埋めたいひとはコピペしてご自身でkind30023をお流しくださいませね🙏

---

今のたゃが言えるのはこんなとこかなー！！！ 穴（NIPとかkindとか未試行とか）、いつかは埋めたいけど、いつか、かな…。
別にこれが仕事に繋がるとかじゃないけど、たゃ生がより良い（好い）ものになったことは確か！ ↑上書き可能コンテンツだからこれはkind1（短文投稿？）で引用しながら言ったほうがいい気がしてきた。
一旦ここまで！
終

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

---

"Privacy is necessary for an open society in the electronic age. Privacy is not secrecy.  A private matter is something one doesn't want the whole world to know, but a secret matter is something one doesn't want anybody to know. Privacy is the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world." - Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto, 1993

---

Privacy is essential to freedom. Without privacy, individuals are unable to make choices free from surveillance and control. Lack of privacy leads to loss of autonomy. When individuals are constantly monitored it limits our ability to express ourselves and take risks. Any decisions we make can result in negative repercussions from those who surveil us. Without the freedom to make choices, individuals cannot truly be free.

Freedom is essential to acquiring and preserving wealth. When individuals are not free to make choices, restrictions and limitations prevent us from economic opportunities. If we are somehow able to acquire wealth in such an environment, lack of freedom can result in direct asset seizure by governments or other malicious entities. At scale, when freedom is compromised, it leads to widespread economic stagnation and poverty. Protecting freedom is essential to economic prosperity.

The connection between privacy, freedom, and wealth is critical. Without privacy, individuals lose the freedom to make choices free from surveillance and control. While lack of freedom prevents individuals from pursuing economic opportunities and makes wealth preservation nearly impossible. No Privacy? No Freedom. No Freedom? No Wealth.

Rights are not granted. They are taken and defended. Rights are often misunderstood as permission to do something by those holding power. However, if someone can give you something, they can inherently take it from you at will. People throughout history have necessarily fought for basic rights, including privacy and freedom. These rights were not given by those in power, but rather demanded and won through struggle. Even after these rights are won, they must be continually defended to ensure that they are not taken away. Rights are not granted - they are earned through struggle and defended through sacrifice.

---

If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 2cde0e02:180a96b9

pen, watercolors & brushpen;

https://stacker.news/items/1006873

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

When Richard Scotford moved to Costa Rica in 2018, he had no idea he would become a key figure in a thriving Bitcoin economy.

A longtime Bitcoin holder who initially saw it through the lens of speculation, Scotford’s journey led him to embrace Bitcoin’s deeper purpose and spearhead Bitcoin Jungle — a grassroots movement bringing real-world Bitcoin adoption to Costa Rica.

Bitcoin circular economies create holistic value for Bitcoiners

Bitcoin Jungle is inspired by Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador but uniquely adapted to Costa Rica’s economic landscape. Unlike El Salvador, where Bitcoin was positioned as a tool for financial inclusion, Costa Rica already has a fairly stable banking system.

The real issue? The friction of moving money. Expats, business owners, and tourists struggle with high fees, banking red tape, and slow transactions. Bitcoin helped solve a lot of these problems.

The Birth of Bitcoin Jungle

Scotford and his team launched Bitcoin Jungle in late 2021 with a simple goal: get bitcoin into people’s hands and make it usable. However, there was one challenge — he had no technical background.

Determined to create a circular bitcoin economy, Scotford networked aggressively. He attended the first Adopting Bitcoin conference in El Salvador, approaching strangers with his vision:

“I was just walking around trying to find people who could help me make this economy, going up to random people saying ‘Hey, what can you do? We’re trying to make a circular economy in Costa Rica, can you help us?’ They all thought I was crazy.”

The breakthrough came when he turned to Bitcoin Twitter. Nicolas Burtey from Galoy encouraged him to create a wallet, and developer Lee Salminen forked the Bitcoin Beach wallet for their project. 

“Within two weeks of Adopting Bitcoin, Lee forked the Galoy Bitcoin Beach wallet, which took Galoy by surprise. Even though they made their wallet to be forked if necessary, I don’t think they were expecting people to do it so fast and, I’d like to say, so well. They were like, ‘Okay, cool, who are these guys doing this?’”

Finally Bitcoin Jungle had its own working wallet, surprising even the Galoy team with the speed of execution.

Grassroots Adoption: One Vendor at a Time

How do you build a bitcoin economy from scratch? Scotford’s answer was simple: start at the farmers’ markets.

“We were like, okay, we’re going to get all the bespoke niche market sellers who are in this area. We have all these beautiful farmers markets, and we decided to approach these people first,” Scotford explained.

His team took a strategic approach, targeting market gatekeepers first.

“If you want to talk to every individual person, it’s really difficult. But if you can talk to the person who is the owner of the market, and then they can introduce you to their market stores, you’re already halfway there.”

Going stall by stall, they pitched Bitcoin’s advantages — no bank fees and better payment options. But adoption didn’t happen overnight, so Bitcoin Jungle initially offered a safety net — vendors could cash out at the end of the day.

“We would say to the vendors, ‘Look, accept bitcoin, and at the end of the day, if you don’t want to keep the bitcoin, we’ll buy it off you,’” Scotford recalled.

“When we first started, maybe 30–40% of the vendors were cashing up every day or at the weekends. Lee would be walking around with big fistfuls of money, cashing out vendors.”

But over time, something shifted — they started keeping their bitcoin.

“Eventually, the vendors started to learn themselves that, ‘Oh, actually it’s better to keep it.’ They would then pay for their tables in the markets using bitcoin. They thought, ‘Well, I don’t want to keep this bitcoin, I don’t really know what to do with it, but I can pay for my table.’ So there, the circular economy starts to happen.”

Today, Bitcoin Jungle runs with minimal intervention, and Scotford takes pride in their reliability.

“When you come here to Costa Rica, what we really pride ourselves on is that if someone says they accept bitcoin, 99% of the time, they will. And if they’re part of Bitcoin Jungle, they will 100% accept bitcoin and you will have a fluid experience with it.”

By mid-summer 2024 over 380 locations in Costa Rica accepted bitcoin

The Bitcoin Jungle Wallet and Real Usage

Bitcoin Jungle is an open-source community project built on the Bitcoin Lightning Network.

Acting as a community bank, the project processes a large number of transactions daily. To encourage proper security practices, Scotford’s team alerts their peers, reminding users to move their bitcoin to cold storage.

“If you’ve got too much bitcoin on your wallet, we send you a message telling you to move it to cold storage,” he explained. For larger businesses, they even offer hands-on assistance to secure funds properly.

Unlike the HODL-only philosophy that many Bitcoiners advocate, Bitcoin Jungle encourages spending.

“Michael Saylor says don’t spend your bitcoin. We say the opposite,” Scotford laughed. “We’re the antithesis of that. You need to spend it.”

Bitcoin Jungle’s Unique Approach to Costa Rica

Bitcoin Jungle isn’t just another Bitcoin adoption effort; it’s tailored to Costa Rica’s economy. The wallet operates in Costa Rican colónes, making transactions feel familiar to residents while ensuring tourists and expats can still interact easily.

The team has also introduced low-fee bitcoin ATMs, point-of-sale integrations, and partnerships that allow users to pay in bitcoin while the recipient receives local currency.

A major breakthrough came when Francis Pouliot from Bull Bitcoin joined forces with Bitcoin Jungle, bringing his expertise in banking infrastructure to the project.

This collaboration enabled seamless bitcoin payments that integrate directly with Costa Rica’s financial system, allowing users to pay anyone, even businesses that don’t directly accept bitcoin, while the recipient receives funds in colónes or dollars.

“I can go to a hardware store, order steel for my new basketball court, pay in bitcoin, and the store gets dollars,” Scotford said. “For a non-tech guy like me, it’s magical.”

Why Aren’t There More Bitcoin Jungles?

Scotford sees an opportunity for more localized bitcoin economies.

“There should be a Bitcoin Harbor, a Bitcoin Mountain, a Bitcoin Driveway,” he joked. “But instead of waiting for permission or corporate funding, people need to take action themselves.”

He emphasizes that building a circular bitcoin economy doesn’t require deep pockets. “I probably gave away $600 worth of bitcoin when we started — just $3 here, $4 there — to get people using it.”

The Future of Bitcoin Jungle

Bitcoin Jungle continues to grow, recently hosting events like the Bitcoin Freedom Festival and integrating bitcoin into community projects, including a school where tuition can be paid in bitcoin.

“The institutions have come in, but the grassroots projects haven’t caught up,” Scotford observed. “It’s time for people to stop sitting on their hands and start building.”

Bitcoin is permissionless, no one has to wait for approval to start using it. Bitcoin Jungle proves that with vision and persistence, anyone can build a thriving Bitcoin economy, one market stall at a time.

Get the latest from Bitcoin Jungle: follow them on X

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Paris, France – June 6, 2025 – Flash, the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses, just announced a new partnership with the Bitcoin Only Brewery, marking the first-ever beverage company to leverage Flash for seamless Bitcoin payments. 

Bitcoin Buys Beer Thanks to Flash!

As Co-Founder of Flash, it's not every day we get to toast to a truly refreshing milestone.

Okay, jokes aside.

We're super buzzed to see our friends at @Drink_B0B
Bitcoin Only Brewery using Flash to power their online sales!

The first… pic.twitter.com/G7TWhy50pX

— Pierre Corbin (@CierrePorbin) June 3, 2025

Flash enables Bitcoin Only Brewery to offer its “BOB” beer with, no-KYC (Know Your Customer) delivery across Europe, priced at 19,500 sats (~$18) for the 4-pack – shipping included.

The cans feature colorful Bitcoin artwork while the contents promise a hazy pale ale: “Each 33cl can contains a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, hazy appearance and refreshing Pale Ale at 5% ABV,” reads the product description.

Pierre Corbin, Co-Founder of Flash, commented: “Currently, bitcoin is used more as a store of value but usage for payments is picking up. Thanks to new innovation on Lightning, bitcoin is ready to go mainstream for e-commerce sales.”

Flash, launched its 2.0 version in March 2025 with the goal to provide the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses worldwide. The platform is non-custodial and can enable both digital and physical shops to accept Bitcoin by connecting their own wallets to Flash.

By leveraging the scalability of the Lightning Network, Flash ensures instant, low-cost transactions, addressing on-chain Bitcoin bottlenecks like high fees and long wait times.

Bitcoin payment usage is growing thanks to Lightning

In May, fast-food chain Steak ‘N Shake went viral for integrating bitcoin at their restaurants around the world. In the same month, the bitcoin2025 conference in Las Vegas set a new world record with 4,000 Lightning payments in one day.

According to a report by River Intelligence, public Lightning payment volume surged by 266% from August 2023 to August 2024. This growth is also reflected in the overall accessibility of lighting infrastructure for consumers. According to Lightning Service Provider Breez, over 650 Million users now have access to the Lightning Network through apps like CashApp, Kraken or Strike.

Bitcoin Only Brewery’s adoption of Flash reflects the growing trend of businesses integrating Bitcoin payments to cater to a global, privacy-conscious customer base. By offering no-KYC delivery across Europe, the brewery aligns with the ethos of decentralization and financial sovereignty, appealing to the increasing number of consumers and businesses embracing Bitcoin as a legitimate payment method.

“Flash is committed to driving innovation in the Bitcoin ecosystem,” Corbin added. “We’re building a future where businesses of all sizes can seamlessly integrate Bitcoin payments, unlocking new opportunities in the global market. It’s never been easier to start selling in bitcoin and we invite retailers globally to join us in this revolution.”

For businesses interested in adopting Bitcoin payments, Flash offers a straightforward onboarding process, low fees, and robust support for both digital and physical goods. To learn more, visit paywithflash.com.

About Flash

Flash is the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses to accept payments. Supporting both digital and physical enterprises, Flash leverages the Lightning Network to enable fast, low-cost Bitcoin transactions. Launched in its 2.0 version in March 2025, Flash is at the forefront of driving Bitcoin adoption in e-commerce.

About Bitcoin Only Brewery

Bitcoin Only Brewery (@Drink_B0B) is a pioneering beverage company dedicated to the Bitcoin ethos, offering high-quality beers payable exclusively in Bitcoin. With a commitment to personal privacy, the brewery delivers across Europe with no-KYC requirements.

Media Contact:

Pierre Corbin
Co-Founder, Flash
Email: press@paywithflash.com
Website: paywithflash.comPhotos paywithflash.com/about/press

How Flash Enables Interoperable, Self-Custodial Bitcoin Commerce

@ 0faf8268:2e8a5462

Using Browser Extensions to Log In and Sign Events on Nostr

If you're new to Nostr, or trying to log in to a client via a web browser using an existing account, you may come across something that feels risky: being asked to paste your private key (your nsec) into a website to log in. This guide outlines a safer alternative. using browser extensions like Nos2x or Alby, which let you securely log in and sign actions without exposing your private key.

These extensions only work in desktop web browsers, not in mobile apps. If you're logging in to a mobile Nostr client (such as Primal, Amethyst, Damus, or others), you’ll typically need to either paste your existing nsec into the app or use a secure import method, like scanning a QR code or restoring from a backup. Be extremely cautious when pasting your nsec, and only do so in apps you trust.

What is NAWC

NAWC stands for "Nostr Authorisation Web Credential". It allows Nostr websites to ask your browser for permission to read your public key and sign messages, without needing direct access to your private key. It works similarly to a password manager or a crypto wallet extension.

Why avoid pasting your nsec

Your nsec is your private key. If someone gains access to it, they can impersonate you, send posts as you, or read your private messages.

Pasting your nsec into a web form is discouraged for several reasons:

• The site might be compromised or malicious

• Your key could be stored in browser memory or cached

• Extensions, scripts, or browser plugins could access the field

• You may unknowingly copy or sync it elsewhere (e.g. clipboard history, autofill, cloud sync)

Once exposed, your nsec cannot be revoked or changed, it is your entire Nostr identity. This is why experienced users recommend using extensions that safely manage your key and handle signing.

What new users might notice

Some Nostr clients still prompt users to paste their nsec, even when a signing extension like Nos2x is installed. This can cause confusion, especially for users trying to follow best practice. Extensions sometimes need to be manually enabled, refreshed, or granted permission before they are recognised. These challenges are common in a developing ecosystem and should improve over time.

Extensions that support NAWC

Nos2x

• Chrome only

• Stores one private key locally

• Works with sites like Primal and Coracle

• Lightweight and simple to use

Alby

• Available for Chrome and Firefox

• Originally built for Lightning, but also supports Nostr

• May need extra setup for non-Lightning Nostr use

• Supports switching between keys and profiles

Bunker (self-hosted signer, not an extension)

• Keeps your private key entirely isolated from the browser

• Can be combined with hardware devices or run remotely

• Ideal for advanced users or managing multiple keys with higher security

Why Signing Events Matters in Nostr

On Nostr, everything you do, posting a note, reacting to content, updating your profile, is considered an event.

To prove that an event is really yours, it must be signed with your private key. This signature is what makes the event valid and verifiable by anyone on the network.

Browser extensions like Nos2x, Alby, or self-hosted signers like Bunker handle this event signing for you. Instead of giving the site your private key, the extension signs the event on your behalf, keeping your key secure while still proving authorship.

In short: extensions are not just for logging in, they also sign everything you do. This keeps your identity secure and helps maintain Nostr’s decentralised and trustless nature.

How to use an extension

1. Install Nos2x or Alby

2. Enter your nsec into the extension settings (only once)

3. Visit a Nostr client like primal.net

4. Approve the login request from the extension

5. You’ll be logged in securely without pasting your key

Switching keys

Most extensions support only one private key at a time. To switch:

• Open the extension

• Remove the current key and enter a new one

• Refresh the site and reauthorise when prompted

If your old key keeps reappearing or does not seem to clear properly, it may be necessary to:

• Uninstall the extension

• Reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store

• Then enter your new nsec during setup

This is a known issue with some extensions (like Nos2x), and will likely improve as tools mature. For now, a clean reinstall is a simple workaround.

Wrap-up

Browser extensions are one of the safest and most effective ways to interact with Nostr. They protect your private key, simplify login, and securely sign every action you take.

While the user experience is still evolving, using a signing extension today is a smart way to get started safely and build good habits as you explore the network.

For more beginner-friendly Nostr guidance, visit:\ https://swiftsats.github.io/getting-started-with-nostr/