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Hey, I started writing on the subject of using Bitcoin w/o local internet, or when only one side has internet, or using HAM radio, SMS, Starlink, Blockstream Satelite, meshnet, mailing someone an opendime... any way bitcoin has been sent under these kind of non-typical ways.
If you folks know of any more lesser known projects or experiments like this, sending a link to any article/writeup/website/video/podcast would be appreciated.
My goal is to raise awareness of progress that Bitcoiners have made to deal with future possible no internet, low internet, or sporadic internet situations. In doing so, maybe encourage more work in this field. Internet shutdowns and slowdowns for political reasons are becoming more common.
Note: I have already googled the hell out of "Bitcoin without internet," "offline Bitcoin," "Lightning offline," that kinda thing.
Thanks, and have a great night!
194 sats \ 4 replies \ @ek 2 Oct 2022
I have used the Bitcoin SMS relay before:
Just send a signed transaction to +1 (863) 248-2646 or +1 (863) BIT-COIN.
Unfortunately, the number is in the United States so it did cost me 0,86€ from Europe (excluding the blockchain fee) but it was worth the experience.
I think there should be numbers for every continent at least.
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Thanks!!! Heres one of those for Africa. Near the end of the video, they show the numbers for several African countries. https://twitter.com/BitcoinEkasi/status/1562568332783468545?t=O3FhAGpWDQGubEMbs99Qsw&s=19
edit: The one in the video is Lightning (LNURL) . I didnt know they did mainnet sms relay in 2017. Thanks again!
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The one in the video is Lightning (LNURL)
A clarification:
Machankura is a USSD-based custodial bitcoin wallet. The mobile subscriber (user), whether on smartphone or feature phone, interacts with Machankura through USSD menus. The service supports LN deposits (via LN invoice created by website, or via Lightning address). It supports withdrawal ONLY via Lightning address. If the destination is a mobile number, or is to a @8333.mobi Lightning address, the service performs an internal ledger update.
In some of the countries supported by Machankura, a receipt for a transaction will be delivered via SMS, but other than that there is nothing else done with Machankura that involves SMS.
I didnt know they did mainnet sms relay in 2017.
Machankura is a new service. Are you possibly referring to some other service?
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30 sats \ 1 reply \ @ek 2 Oct 2022
Machankura is a new service. Are you possibly referring to some other service?
Maybe he means the service mentioned by me since the article is from 2017
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Check out Samurai's TxTenna if you haven't already
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Yeah, I have that one bookmarked to check out. thank you!
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OK cool. I assume you also have machankura bookmarked? https://8333.mobi/
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Yep! Thanks!
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Satscard, is like an OpenDime where it can be passed person-to-person, offline.
But with satscard the funds can be spent, and then a new address generated. That can be done sequentially for a total of 10 uses: https://satscard.com/faq
There are other approaches with other technologies:
Blockchain side implementation of Pure Wallet (PW): An offline transaction architecture https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405959521000928
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Scrit (also referred to as Scrit1), which is referenced as "prior art" for Fedimint, has methods for "half-offline" (i.e., only sender online, or only recipient online), and offline (i.e., both offline, and could be done via paper / QR codes even).
"Scrit: A distributed untraceable electronic cash system" https://github.com/scritcash/scrit-whitepaper/blob/master/scrit-whitepaper.pdf
The Fedimint homepage also refers to "Scrit2" with having "receiver- and sender-initiated half-offline transactions".
And along these lines:
Transferable E-cash: A Cleaner Model and the First Practical Instantiation https://eprint.iacr.org/2020/1400.pdf
And there are a number of redeemable code / voucher / etc approaches, including:
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See also:
thought experiment: how to keep full node in sync without traditional internet? #72642
and
We need a real decentralized mesh network for censorship resistant Bitcoin usage #49841 https://twitter.com/bradmillscan/status/1551951097375358976 [Nitter]
and
Hardening Bitcoin against ISP censorship at the individual level? #62398
and
How to send Bitcoin transactions via non-internet channels #9251
and
How to send Bitcoin transactions via SMS #2298 https://rusnak.io/how-to-send-bitcoin-transactions-via-sms
and
bitcoinVend: Offline bitcoin vending machine #52425 https://github.com/arcbtc/bitcoinVend
and even
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Jeeze, thanks so so much. This will keep me occupied for a while
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Stumbled across this
I’m still waiting for my shipment but seems like a cool idea.
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Wow, i like this idea. Seems to solve the trust issues that came along with the "casascius coins" from the early years.
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Yeah Im excited to get this shipment and try it out because this could work in locations with no internet and limited mobile use
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You have to trust that it’s legit, trust the security features, hope the recipient knows what it is, etc. but looks cool! Post how it goes when you get it!
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50 sats \ 1 reply \ @pow 2 Oct 2022
Another simple way (from my experience)
Use BlueWallet,
  • Scan the QR code (bitcoin address)
  • enter the amount sats
  • After selecting the fee etc, the next screen you'll see a share button which contains a signed transaction hex, which you can share with the other person who has an active internet connection via SMS, NFC, or airdrop etc,
  • And they can broadcast to the Bitcoin network.
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Yeah, presigned Bitcoin transaction. I never knew getting it was so easy. Thanks!
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Tool to send/receive onchain transactions via audio channels (eg HAM radio or satellite phones)
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