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I want to extend this idea to email. Use encryption, but for proof that the email can't be read, instead of for security/privacy (not that I'm against either of

I want to extend this idea to email. Use encryption, but for proof that the email can't be read, instead of for security/privacy (not that I'm against either of those). Update the email protocol so that all messages must be encrypted. Not "by default", but by necessity. The server rejects them if they aren't encrypted and signed in a way that proves the decryption key is on a block chain. The only way to put the key in the chain is to submit a micro payment. By "courtesy" , but completely subject to the recipient, the users client will refund the payment 48 hrs after it has been decrypted/read. Only if they click "spam" then the payment stays on their ledger. This would kill spam overnight. The two downsides I see so far are that the chain is a single point of failure for everyone, and it would cost people a few bucks and some friction to get the clients set up. Plus the coin would have to be very low transaction cost, and still fully redeemable for actual value somewhere.

regenschutz 9mo ago
Unfortunately, I doubt that would work. Email is so popular because it's sort of a universal messaging protocol that so many old but critical pieces of infrastructure require. If this "Email 2.0" released, it would take years, if not decades, for critical infrastructure to switch over. In the meantime, you'd still need an Email 1.0 client. So now you have a mix of your most important emails from critical infrastructure and just spam from bots who don't want to pay money for sending spam in your inbox. You'll still need to deal with spam, but if anything it'll be even worse because now you have to double the amount of inboxes you have.
- gosub100 9mo ago
  It would be monumental to get people to shift en masse, I agree. Perhaps it could start off as a niche service to contact really popular people who could command high fees to speak to them. For instance, $MOVIE_STAR could have a $500 message fee (that goes to charity) to be able to say something to him/her and maybe get a reply. This could popularize the service, and it could grow over time. Another problem is that the legacy email providers would not like transporting encrypted payloads that they can't mine personal data from. Attachments could also be a headache, do they get stored for free? On the chain or on the recipient server?

regenschutz 9mo ago

Unfortunately, I doubt that would work. Email is so popular because it's sort of a universal messaging protocol that so many old but critical pieces of infrastructure require. If this "Email 2.0" released, it would take years, if not decades, for critical infrastructure to switch over. In the meantime, you'd still need an Email 1.0 client. So now you have a mix of your most important emails from critical infrastructure and just spam from bots who don't want to pay money for sending spam in your inbox. You'll still need to deal with spam, but if anything it'll be even worse because now you have to double the amount of inboxes you have.

gosub100 9mo ago
It would be monumental to get people to shift en masse, I agree. Perhaps it could start off as a niche service to contact really popular people who could command high fees to speak to them. For instance, $MOVIE_STAR could have a $500 message fee (that goes to charity) to be able to say something to him/her and maybe get a reply. This could popularize the service, and it could grow over time. Another problem is that the legacy email providers would not like transporting encrypted payloads that they can't mine personal data from. Attachments could also be a headache, do they get stored for free? On the chain or on the recipient server?