Nostr Web Client

I finished the second version of my book!

## The Praxeology of Privacy

### Economic Logic in Cypherpunk Implementation

Austrian economists theorize but cannot build. Cypherpunks build but lack theory. This book synthesizes both traditions into a unified strategy for making the state irrelevant.

Three axioms. Twenty-one chapters. One conclusion: cheap defense defeats expensive attack. When theft becomes unprofitable, the state withers.

Public Domain. v0.2.0. Published on Nostr.

Thanks a lot to Stephan Kinsella and Eric Voskuil for their tough feedback on the first version, please join them in demolishing the logic of this second edition and help me make the arguments better!

---

Table of Contents

Preface

Austrian economists theorize but cannot build. Cypherpunks build but lack theory. This book synthesizes both to make the state irrelevant.

nostr:naddr1qqgrvvpjx33kgvtrxgen2vfcvcurjqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823cwhph63

Part I: Introduction

Chapter 1: The Nature of Privacy

Privacy is selective disclosure, not hiding. Breaking adversary observation through the OODA loop is strategic defense. Cheap privacy defeats expensive surveillance.

nostr:naddr1qqgxvdpc8pjrywryxv6nwv3kxsungqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823cmtv33p

Chapter 2: Two Traditions, One Conclusion

Austrian economics and cypherpunk practice converge independently on privacy's importance. Theory explains why; code demonstrates how. This book synthesizes both traditions.

nostr:naddr1qqgxzctpxvenverrx93rwv35v3snzqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823c4p7jlc

Part II: Philosophical Foundations

Chapter 3: The Action Axiom

The Action Axiom proves privacy is structural to human action. Deliberation is internal; preferences are subjective; information asymmetry is inherent.

nostr:naddr1qqgxyvecvgexvcnzxyekvefkxvukxqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823c83cqzs

Chapter 4: The Argumentation Axiom

Argumentation ethics demonstrates self-ownership through performative contradiction. Denying it while arguing presupposes it. Privacy rights follow directly from self-ownership.

nostr:naddr1qqgxvcfhx5unjdpk8quxxdp3xvcrsqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823c3n4fxz

Chapter 5: The Axiom of Resistance

The Axiom of Resistance assumes systems can resist control. Mathematics, empirical evidence, and similar systems support this well-grounded but non-self-evident assumption.

nostr:naddr1qqgrgvmrxfjxgvmpxg6nqvt9xuurwqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823c2v0h9m

Part III: Economic Foundations

Chapter 6: Information, Scarcity, and Property

Information is non-scarce and cannot be property. Privacy is protected through self-ownership, physical property rights, and voluntary contracts, not intellectual property.

nostr:naddr1qqgx2dr9vv6kgwf5xe3ngdee8y6nzqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823cgpp3hh

Chapter 7: Exchange Theory and Privacy

Privacy enhances exchange by protecting deliberation and enabling negotiation. Surveillance distorts prices and chills transactions. Better privacy means better functioning markets.

nostr:naddr1qqgrsdfcv5mx2vmxxe3nzvf4xqmxzqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823c4hcvgf

Chapter 8: Capital Theory and Entrepreneurship

Privacy infrastructure is capital requiring present sacrifice for future capability. Entrepreneurial discovery drives innovation. Markets coordinate heterogeneous privacy tools most effectively.

nostr:naddr1qqgxgdeev5ckzer9xy6rvwpnxyukvqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823cxcc5c2

Chapter 9: Monetary Theory and Sound Money

Sound money emerges spontaneously from markets, not decrees. Bitcoin implements digital soundness with fixed supply and censorship resistance; privacy requires additional tools.

nostr:naddr1qqgxgwf3xqensef5vvcrvcfs8yuxxqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823ceca8xr

Part IV: The Adversary

Chapter 10: Financial Surveillance and State Control

Financial surveillance enables state control through observation. CBDCs complete the architecture. Privacy breaks the OODA loop at observation, making theft unprofitable.

nostr:naddr1qqgrsdmpvv6n2wfhv5ervdmpxa3kxqghwaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8qunfd4skctnwv46z7q3qklkk3vrzme455yh9rl2jshq7rc8dpegj3ndf82c3ks2sk40dxt7qxpqqqp65wcwwf6m

Chapter 11: Corporate Surveillance and Data Extraction

Corporate surveillance extracts behavioral data for prediction products. State and corporate surveillance are deeply entangled. Markets are responding to growing privacy demand.

nostr:naddr1qqgrydekxumxvvm9xp3n2vtr89jrxqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823cduqmxa

Chapter 12: The Crypto Wars

The Crypto Wars pit states against privacy technology. Mathematics ignores legislation. Developers face prosecution. The fundamental conflict is permanent and intensifying.

nostr:naddr1qqgxycfjvyck2vrpxvunycfcxsuk2qgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823cwnenzp

Part V: Technical Implementation

Chapter 13: Cryptographic Foundations

Cryptography provides mathematical privacy foundations: encryption, hashing, and digital signatures enable trustless verification. Implementation bugs and human error remain the weakest links.

nostr:naddr1qqgxzdt9xcexvef5v3jrsefexsunzqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823c94u5pd

Chapter 14: Anonymous Communication Networks

The internet leaks metadata. VPNs help locally. Tor distributes trust through relays. Mixnets defeat global adversaries. Choose tools matching your threat model.

nostr:naddr1qqgrydphv9nrgcfcxg6ryvrzx56kzqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823cvp8fcy

Chapter 15: Bitcoin: Resistance Money

Bitcoin solves double-spending without trusted third parties. Sound money enforced by code. Base layer privacy requires additional tools like Lightning and coinjoin.

nostr:naddr1qqgrwv33xvenvdnyxc6ngv3hv5mxxqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyzm7669svt0xkjsju50a22zurc0qa589z2xd4yatzx6p2z64a5e0cqcyqqq823c4qzyqz

Chapter 16: Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Zero-knowledge proofs enable verification without disclosure. SNARKs, STARKs, and Bulletproofs make different tradeoffs. Deployed in Zcash and rollups; broader adoption developing.

nostr:naddr1qqgrjd33vvcxyv3kvyurydfexscrgqghwaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8qunfd4skctnwv46z7q3qklkk3vrzme455yh9rl2jshq7rc8dpegj3ndf82c3ks2sk40dxt7qxpqqqp65we3mut9

Chapter 17: Decentralized Social Infrastructure

Nostr solves identity capture through cryptographic keys users control. Relays compete, moderation is market-driven, and the protocol extends beyond social posts.

nostr:naddr1qqgrsdrxveskgvrzv3nrgdmrvcmkvqghwaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8qunfd4skctnwv46z7q3qklkk3vrzme455yh9rl2jshq7rc8dpegj3ndf82c3ks2sk40dxt7qxpqqqp65wpx3yl3

Part VI: Praxis

Chapter 18: Lessons from History

DigiCash, e-gold, and Silk Road failed through centralization and poor OPSEC. Bitcoin succeeded through decentralization, open source, and properly aligned economic incentives.

nostr:naddr1qqgxydmpv56nqefnv4jnwepcxdjx2qghwaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8qunfd4skctnwv46z7q3qklkk3vrzme455yh9rl2jshq7rc8dpegj3ndf82c3ks2sk40dxt7qxpqqqp65wm4wp04

Chapter 19: Operational Security

Operational security prevents adversaries from gathering compromising information. Threat modeling guides defense. Human factors are the weakest link. Perfect OPSEC is impossible.

nostr:naddr1qqgrxep3vscrzc3kxyenqdpex9jnzqghwaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8qunfd4skctnwv46z7q3qklkk3vrzme455yh9rl2jshq7rc8dpegj3ndf82c3ks2sk40dxt7qxpqqqp65wyp98rv

Chapter 20: Implementation Strategy

Start with honest assessment. Build progressively from basics to advanced. Find community. Privacy is not a destination but ongoing practice. Progress matters.

nostr:naddr1qqgxvdtyx43nwvmxvcckgerx8qmnvqghwaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8qunfd4skctnwv46z7q3qklkk3vrzme455yh9rl2jshq7rc8dpegj3ndf82c3ks2sk40dxt7qxpqqqp65wmuawxl

Chapter 21: Building the Parallel Economy

The parallel economy grows through counter-economics. Cheap defense defeats expensive attack. When theft becomes unprofitable, the state withers. Build. Trade. Resist.

nostr:naddr1qqgxxefj89nrxvtrxcerxvfs8q6xvqghwaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8qunfd4skctnwv46z7q3qklkk3vrzme455yh9rl2jshq7rc8dpegj3ndf82c3ks2sk40dxt7qxpqqqp65wat25hx

HTG⚡️#HODL 🔐 10h ago

Congrats! This is an awesome read. ⚡️🫡

HTG⚡️#HODL 🔐 10h ago

Nice. Worth reading! 🔥

nostr:naddr1qqgrvvpjx33kgvtrxgen2vfcvcurjqgkwaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8qunfd4skctnwv46qyg9ha45tqck7dd9p9egl6559c8s7pmgw2y5vm2f6kyd5z594tmfjlspsgqqqw4rs4vh7ae