BDMD = Bitcoin deniers myths debunked This is a series of short posts about Bitcoin myths and nocoiner fallacies, debunked or explained. Previous BDMD #1
We often hear this question from normies:
"If there is no internet connection or you are in a place without coverage, how can you use Bitcoin? Or if a government has to shut down the internet access? Wouldn’t it be a danger that we lose our BTC?
First of all... Government is NOT going to close access to the internet because they depend 100% on it. Yes, they can restrict it, they can censor it.
But nowadays, some computers interconnected by an ad-hoc network, can already use many versions of the Internet that cannot be censored (see TOR).
The question is: if you live in a country where the government is an oppressor, it wouldn't be more logical to ask "why did we let the government to enslaves us?" The problem is NOT with Bitcoin, it is with the government and with us because we let them doing this.
Let's not forget the quote: “When people fear their government, there is tyranny; When the government fears the people, there is freedom". If you are already living in a tyranny, then your concern is not how to use BTC, but how to stop this tyranny. And you can stop it exactly by start using bitcoin.
How to use Bitcoin without internet ?
There are many options to use Bitcoin WITHOUT an internet connection. Recently there have been tests with radio devices such as GoTenna or using antennas and equipment with connection to satellites and using the satellite network. In Sep 2020 a group of bitcoiners in Venezuela, Cryptobuyers, have connected a BTC node to the satellite network. Here is a guide how to run a BTC node to the satellite network.
An interesting option is to start your own ISP: https://startyourownisp.com/ if in your area there's no infrastructure or the ISP is offering shity services or is censoring too much.
Another possibility is sending a tx by SMS. The tx is created in an offline wallet and the result will be in the form of an encrypted text code can be sent to a friend or relative by SMS, who simply broadcasts the tx, copying the code in any wallet app that supports broadcast tx (Electrum, Sparrow, Bluewallet, Samourai etc). He will never have access to your wallet, he just re-transmits the tx, acting like a relay.
Recently we've seen also the new options using Mesh networks with LoRa devices, that can connect P2P multiple relays and create an ad-hoc network, that needs only a single point connected to the rest of the internet.
We've seen that through these Mesh networks it is possible to connect bitcoin and LN nodes and have perfectly fine Bitcoin payments between users.
Another option could be using Ecash, that could be used offline for P2P payments. Only the receiver that want to "melt" the ecash tokens must be connected to the rest of the internet and redeem his tokens through any LN wallet. Yes, this is a custodial method (ecash is practically a digital gift card), there are risks, but in very specific cases (isolated communities) it could be helpful.
For sure there are many other options and tools. Please share them in comments if you know some.
So this FUD question should be discarded and move on.
Read more FUD articles on: https://endthefud.org/