lightning is grossly overlooked as a privacy layer
There's this notion in Bitcoin that we are building tools to help the world become a better place – but when faced with actual, real world problems, responses are often reactionary and self-serving.
Bitcoin isn't private enough? You're just not using the right tools. The tools are too complicated? You're just not dedicated enough to the cause. Bitcoin fixes all your problems, you just need to spend countless hours of your life to understanding it.
Yesterday, nostr:nprofile1qyg8wumn8ghj7efwdehhxtnvdakz7qgnwaehxw309ac82unsd3jhqct89ejhxtcpzamhxue69uhhyetvv9ujucmpw4ek2uewvdhk6tcprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujucm4wfex2mn59en8j6f0qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hj7qghwaehxw309aex2mrp0yhxummn9eek7cmfv9kz7qgewaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8xmn0wf6zuum0vd5kzmp0qy28wumn8ghj7un9d3shjctzd3jjummjvuhsqgykrhztmdarqyq9dg8tpzqr5jww8tjdy2wehj8t07r2lxfsna9fach3y264 released a report on the usability of Bitcoin (and privacy coins) for activists, and it's a sobering look at how builders in this space have failed those they claim to help protect.
No-KYC on- and off-ramps are still too hard to use. Coins need to be swapped between networks or privatized with dedicated software. Self-custody is easy, but wallets offering network-level protections are often not directed at non-technical users.
We can ignore these criticisms if we want. Or we can stop gaslighting users and skeptics alike for not being educated or engaged enough, and start dedicating more resources to building tools that actually serve the needs of those who need it most.
Discussion
Agree, but using LN without sharing info with custodians/service operators is still to hard for people unfamiliar with it when your life depends on it.
the trick is to get it ready before you need it, for now. being unprepared is very common for many people in many aspects of life .
"Well ya shouldve thought of that beforehand!" is always really helpful feedback when someone comes to you with a problem. Thank you for your constructive input.
this is why we should encourage people to open their lightning channels when on chain fees are low but that rarely happens. we're all complacent.
I wouldn't even consider lightning given that darknet marketplaces completely refuse to touch it for various different reasons that you probably never thought about and don't care about. it looks like you are a long ways from discovering just why lightning is overlooked as a privacy layer.
the lightning network is literally my job lol