Yes.
Idk why the low time preference portion of Bitcoin goes out the window when it comes to self-custody/privacy.
If the tools aren't ready, don't jump to onboard people to custodial tools that are no different than Paypal. Take the time to onboard them properly or wait until things are ready, donate to devs doing good work, spread the word on excellent solutions, and keep trying new things yourself.
Channels aren't really that complex if you're just doing private channels and not attempting to be a routing node.
Setup a few outbound channels to popular nodes and then buy inbound liquidity from any number of sources, like Amboss Magma.
Receiving Zaps is more tricky but can be done today on Umbrel, great guide by #[3] here:
I've been working on Bitcoin/Lightning for ages as an educator, and work full-time on Bitcoin now:
https://sethforprivacy.com/posts/why-i-focus-on-bitcoin/
I've never been an anything "maxi", but I do love Monero and value it highly as a tool for freedom.
If you take that stance the "winner" will always be custodial solutions (as it always has been) because they require no personal responsibility or effort.
Those of us on nostr today ought to be the ones doing things the right way and pushing others to do the same, instead I seem to be the minority here.
"Apologists" isn't even a derogatory term.
The tools are already there, people just need to use and contribute to them:
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BTW you can do self-sovereign, non-custodial Lightning + Zaps quite easily today with sufficiently powerful hardware for ~$300 or less:
# Self-sovereign Lightning
## Parts
HP tiny PC - https://www.ebay.com/itm/354567533378?epid=7058281144
2TB 2.5" SSD - https://www.ebay.com/itm/325333961758?epid=2314403619
## Setup
RaspiBlitz for bitcoind and Lightning - https://github.com/rootzoll/raspiblitz
TallyCoin connect for Zaps - https://sovrnbitcoiner.com/receiving-self-sovereign-zaps/
Self-custody can necessarily never be *easier* than custodial solutions as it requires actual personal responsibility and at least some effort.
They are already better in that you actually are using these amazing tools and gaining freedom from 3rd-parties as was the goal all along.
Run your own node via something like RaspiBlitz (preferrably on an old laptop or ultra-small-form-factor PC), use Zeus to control it/transact, and you can use something like lnbits (coming soon!) or Tallycoin Connect to receive Zaps:
OK, all you "it's just for small payments" custodial Lightning apologists.
I would love to hear nuanced arguments that refute these claims:
1. Adopting custodial wallets now "for small amounts" will lead to slower growth and adoption for proper, approachable self-sovereign setups, both now and in the future
2. Using custodial wallets provide zero privacy from the custodian, w/ zaps tying your nostr identity directly to any other payments you make as a result
3. Once better options are out there for self-sovereign LN, people won't switch because they'll be fully entrenched in the convenience of custodial wallets
4. Often, using custodial LN wallets isn't even using LN at all, as it's just shifting around numbers in a database (Strike>Strike, WoS>WoS, etc.)
5. If the majority of users are adopting custodial LN wallets, there will be far less funding and social pressure for better self-sovereign setups, proper privacy tools (BOLT 12, alias SCIDs, route blinding, etc.) due to so few actual potential users
Such an honor to get to go back on one of my favorite podcasts, Watchman Privacy, to chat all things Bitcoin, nodes, no-KYC and privacy.
Give it a watch/listen below and share widely to get the word out on such an important topic at times like these 👇
Lmao talk about missing the entire point of Bitcoin.
"Feds please shut down our competition" is about the saddest response to a coming adversarial environment I can think of.
Basic privacy:
https://sethforprivacy.com/posts/privacy-first-steps/
Bitcoin privacy:
https://bitcoiner.guide/privacy/ (cc #[2])
Avoiding KYC:
What do you mean?
Adversarial environment is here, crypto is the target now:
Prepare for it by avoiding KYC, learning to use the tools for Bitcoin privacy, and improving your broader personal privacy.
There are definitely others, sadly the minority but working on that 😉
Hell yeah, the more the merrier 😎
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