If Bitcoin cannot help the most desperate of us the uptake of the technology will decline. There are more poor folk than SAT heavy Bitcoiners
243 sats \ 1 reply \ @om 1 Jun 2023
Check out this homeless dude who got $10k profit from an app he coded but continued to live on the streets because he can't open a bank account without an address:
Also ask @anarkio who has no documents at all.
Bitcoin = survival.
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Great story.
I can relate :o(
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Bitcoin is Internet money. It might help people who are unbanked or unbankable. If they have money and are unable to spend it through other rails, the permissionless nature of it can be very useful. Also because it may be safer to store a little data than a lot of banknotes or valuables, it might be helpful from a custody perspective (then again of your phone gets stolen you might really be in trouble).
If you dont have money at all, it wont be useful.
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Well my take is it can if awareness is available. the poor must know about Bitcoin and its capacity to deliver them out of poverty. So take micro jobs demand payment in Bitcoin and then stack them up hold only to liquidate when its better price can now help you fund a life style you so desire out of your desperate situation
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Easy, bitcoin demonetizes housing, removes licensure from occupations, and with Nostr, people will be able to make a living as individuals, unencumbered by the tyranny of employment laws i.e. bitcoin obsoletes 99% of homelessness
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I was just thinking about this last night. I posted on the daily discussion thread a few minutes ago. Last night I attended a NY Mets baseball game at CitiField. On the walk back to the subways after the game, there is an informal marketplace where people looking pretty down on their luck were selling items like cans of beer, soft drinks, hats, shirts, etc. They held up handmade signs saying they accept venmo and zelle. Bitcoin seems like the perfect solution for them.
Of course, this is one anecdotal use case. For more comprehensive ideas regarding charities, check out the work of Alex Gladstein and Anita Posch.
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Thank you for the pointer to Alex Gladstein and Anita Posch.
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It has to be said that without a phone & internet access it will be difficult.
Gifting some could spark a bit of hope for the future which could be a turn in the right direction.
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I've actually seen some posts about people using Bitcoin with an old phone that has no internet connection:
It's kinda cool, not sure in which locations it will work though
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getting the phone with a wallet of satoshi is the major problem to solve. Getting wifi is challenging but not major. Libraries, rail/bus stations. hanging outside cafe's etc..
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Start small. Buy a few dollars worth and hold. Learn about bitcoin and lightning.
The process is transformative and will lead to better things including finding somewhere to live. šŸ™
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Iā€™m waiting to see someone holding a sign with their ā€˜homeless @walletofsatoshi .comā€™ receive address... QR no longer necessary!
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Like a social media facebook like site for homeless people. They can put up a QR on their profile. Easily checkable by locals and the verified can get SATS from a pool of donaters. Maybe co. can donate % of profits... hmmm..
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Bitcoin doesent leech peoples purchasing power (in theory) and if thats true then the productive people will be able to save up and actually help the less fortunate more
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Bitcoin helps you help yourself.
Unfortunately the communists will push cbdc through the homeless aid programs
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