To communicate, we need to connect.…

To communicate, we need to connect. Mouth to ear, face to face, but also over longer distances.

For our parallel monetary system in the dark forest, we need some form of connectivity as well. That does not necessarily mean internet connection though. Local Cashu mints, or local lightning channels. The peer to peer nature of lightning is underappreciated. We do not need internet connectivity or uninterrupted connection to the whole bitcoin p2p network to be able to make local transactions.

Peer to peer messaging, using encryption and signatures is one of the better researched areas of cryptoanarchy, that's what cypherpunks started with.

Basic infrastructure can be built on email, with even simple apps and encrypted groups. DeltaChat is a good example. For high latency and resilience, mesh networks are even better. Reticulum is media independent (LoRA, tcp/ip, paper qr codes), encrypted by default and dynamic mesh routed protocol suite. For longer distances, take messages few times a day using a long range drone. Old school fidonet style mashed up with high tech UAV.

Btcpayserver, bluewallet or Zeus with local nodes, Cashu and others add payment infrastructure on top of mesh networks. For lightning, you can receive bitcoin state using Blockstream satellite receiver. Determine current prices using on chain data with UTXO.live.

Starlink or other ISPs are nice, but what if internet connection is down? Let's be conscious, play with the tech and know what we'll do. Direct experience is even better. We can do this.