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While you wrote this, around 1000 people got their first smartphone. We're getting close to 4 billion smartphones in the world, the trend is pretty clear. You a

While you wrote this, around 1000 people got their first smartphone. We're getting close to 4 billion smartphones in the world, the trend is pretty clear. You are an incredibly rare exception. I'm not "arguing" for anything, I'm just stating the fact that you can already transfer money peer to peer, and it isn't controlled by "the state" just because in some countries your phone number has to be registered. Or are you saying they also register each transfer? How would your "permissionless" money transfer system work, do you have any ideas or is it just slogans? And if you don't want to use a phone, you would presumably need a computer. That seems less inclusive, not more.

randomhodler84 5y ago
State of the art using bitcoin today is Strike, which performs payments over the lightning network. It’s largely behind the adoption of bitcoin in El Salvador. I know I’m rare in my beliefs and paranoid understanding of geopolitics. Phones and cellular networks are not technologies to liberate the soul, no, far from it.
- Grustaf 5y ago
  You'd still need a computer or phone, and a bank account, unless you imagine getting paid in bitcoins. But then the government will definitely start tracking that, or outlaw it if they can't. They are not going to give up their ability to tax the economy.
  - randomhodler84 5y ago
    Yup, just bitcoin. Strike also uses stablecoins so you can send/receive USD without a bank being involved at all. True, peer-to-peer value transfers, nothing like a sms->sms transfer through a 3rd party. This will be my last comment — I beg you to wake up, look around and see what is happening. Janky cell phone centralized payment systems run by banks, telcos and governments suck. They represent control and surveillance. You think these central payment networks are about empowering a Kenyan farmer, no, it is about controlling them, being able to apply financial censorship and have full visibility into their private spending. There is a better world being developed right now. One that needs no gates nor gatekeepers.

randomhodler84 5y ago

State of the art using bitcoin today is Strike, which performs payments over the lightning network. It’s largely behind the adoption of bitcoin in El Salvador. I know I’m rare in my beliefs and paranoid understanding of geopolitics. Phones and cellular networks are not technologies to liberate the soul, no, far from it.

Grustaf 5y ago
You'd still need a computer or phone, and a bank account, unless you imagine getting paid in bitcoins. But then the government will definitely start tracking that, or outlaw it if they can't. They are not going to give up their ability to tax the economy.
- randomhodler84 5y ago
  Yup, just bitcoin. Strike also uses stablecoins so you can send/receive USD without a bank being involved at all. True, peer-to-peer value transfers, nothing like a sms->sms transfer through a 3rd party. This will be my last comment — I beg you to wake up, look around and see what is happening. Janky cell phone centralized payment systems run by banks, telcos and governments suck. They represent control and surveillance. You think these central payment networks are about empowering a Kenyan farmer, no, it is about controlling them, being able to apply financial censorship and have full visibility into their private spending. There is a better world being developed right now. One that needs no gates nor gatekeepers.