Nostr centers itself on three fundamental values:

- Decentralization: There is no single global chain.

- Freedom of expression: There are no miners to select what goes into the "chain".

- Interoperability: There is no master codebase that everyone must follow or use.

These values are intertwined, with public-key cryptography serving as a foundation to achieve them all.

Nostr's design principles further emphasize:

- Data portability: Vendor lock-ins are virtually impossible for both relays and clients.

- User-controlled identities: Users hold their own keys

- Web of trust: Authorities are chosen, not imposed.

This isn't just theory, it's the future of online communication.