Back in August, I wrote about the importance of creating a censorship resistant future. At that time, I focused on how websites and applications increasingly demand photo IDs, biometric scans, and other personally identifiable information. These requirements place more restrictions on freedom and privacy.
A lot has happened since then. In the UK and across Europe, a full digital ID system has now been implemented. This development is deeply concerning, especially when these identifications are linked to central bank digital currencies. With only a few connections in place, governments and corporations could essentially restrict your freedom and push society toward a dystopian, Black Mirror–style nightmare.
While this issue is starting to appear on the radar of social media platforms and some mainstream outlets, it does not yet seem to resonate with the very population it will affect most. Here in America, we pride ourselves on freedom and the First Amendment. Instead of leaving it up to social media companies—who rely heavily on advertising revenue while simultaneously restricting expression—we need systems that allow people to exchange value directly.
If something brings you value, you should be able to return value to it, whether physically in person or digitally online. This is exactly what Bitcoin makes possible. From its original white paper, Bitcoin was designed as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Building on that vision, Nostr combined with Lightning “Zaps” now enables individuals to exchange value without the cumbersome restrictions of third-party intermediaries.
This innovation will not only reshape how we exchange value on social platforms but also change the incentives of content creation itself. Traditional social media feeds thrive on mainstream media headlines with the motto “if it bleeds, it leads,” creating a constant cycle of negativity. In contrast, the value-for-value model introduced by Nostr and Bitcoin encourages positivity, creativity, and independence
Which brings me to today. Last month, I talked about creating a Nostr relay. This month, I am excited to announce that I’ve established one—alongside a Blossom Media Server—and I’ve been steadily developing an independent app that lets users live stream and broadcast directly to the Nostr network.
What began as a personal experiment, setting up an RTMP server and a basic management interface for my own streams, has grown into a full-fledged streaming application project. It brings me great joy to share this milestone, and I look forward to providing more updates soon.
If you’d like to explore, support the project, or simply follow along, feel free to sign up, connect on social platforms, or use the donation button. Contributions in Bitcoin are welcome through our BTCPay server.
Stay cautious—the future can feel uncertain, even frightening. But with Bitcoin, I truly believe we are on the winning side.
Current Bitcoin Block: 917,472