my first post on here, y'all kindly show me love

I should have been clearer with my concerns. I'm not worried about the government knowing what I'm doing. I may hate tax and despise how big the federal government is, but I'm not interested in being an outlaw.

My issue with KYC lies with the exchanges. Seems like there are 5 data breaches a day, these exchanges are high-value targets, and I do not have the time or money to be able to afford the risk of a data breach with my SSN, ID and likeness of my face. As we all know, federal bureaucracy is a sluggish nightmare and that's about the last thing I need on my plate right now.

I won't lie, I'm at the point where I think I'm just DONE trying to get into #Bitcoin, #Monero or any other coin.

I love the technology. I think it's phenomenal, it presents some truly incredible future possibilities. I also do think it has the potential to free people from the fiat scam. I wouldn't be on Nostr and continually trying to find ways to get into this space if I didn't believe in it.

However, its number one weakness is KYC/AML. Even to buy small amounts, you have to upload sensitive documents to an exchange with some stupid selfie, and you have absolutely no way of verifying that they are doing their absolute best guarding that data even if I were comfortable with them having it (I'm not). It's not even the concern of them tying my identity to my Bitcoin (though that is still problematic), I just don't have any intentions of trusting a CEX with my sensitive data, I am aware of no-KYC DEXes and Bitcoin ATMs. Neither of them work without major sacrifice, risk or geographic issues.

With DEXes, you're risking your money trading with sellers that might not honor the deal. Sure, you usually have escrows, but then you're trusting that DEX. Ignoring that issue for a moment, whatever DEXes I'm on have offers that usually demand either cash by mail or credit card, ans some of them actually run KYC checks of their own. Cash by mail is a huge risk in this day and age, and I certainly have no plans to send a credit card number to a total stranger (and that's assuming one has a credit card; I don't). Then, once again, ignoring that issue brings up another one: the minimum trade amount. Nine times out of ten, any offers I see on a DEX set like a $150 minimum. Problem is, for people like me who just want to start slowly, to test the waters, this is problematic as well. Plus, it goes back to the high potential for scams, and risking $150 that I'm locking away is not a good risk to take, particularly when you're in a tight financial spot like I am.

Then, you have Bitcoin ATMs. Provided you can find one (only one in my area and not in the best town), you're going to spend truly exorbitant amounts on their fees. The one near me charges 20%. If I wanted to start with, say, $50 to start stacking, they'd take $10 of that. Plus, unlike other industries, I've found that it's very difficult to find reviews on these companies and as such, I have no idea how reputable the company is.

At the end of the day, I seriously don't know how y'all do it. Are you all just complying with the absurd KYC regulations or what? Because every other method I've tried (and believe me, I've tried so much) has fallen through in spectacular fashion. How can Bitcoin truly become the replacement I believe it can be, if we all have to either go along with draconian regulations or make a big financial risk?

Please help me understand, because I really am at the point where I'm thinking I'm done trying.

#asknostr #KYC

Inflation is just another word for money printing

Nostr adoption and media sharing has been growing again in the last week. At this pace we’ll be celebrating 2M freely shared files very soon. 😂🤯🤯🤯🚀🔥

The studio is ready, Danny's flights are booked, and next week we’ll begin recording episodes for our new podcast.

I wanted to share the reasons behind this shift as many have been asking. Three primary factors influenced this decision:

1. I hate making remote shows—I never want to do them again. These interviews need the intimacy of being in person.

2. Traveling constantly has been detrimental to my health and my family.

3. My commitments here with the football club and local community are growing.

So, the solution was clear: build a studio in the UK and produce the show locally.

We’ve secured a fantastic space in Soho, London, and we’re ready to go but given the limited number of Bitcoin guests available in the UK or those willing to fly in, it’s time to retire What Bitcoin Did.

Our new podcast will be similar in feel but will cover a broader range of topics. While some episodes will focus on Bitcoin (though less frequently), most will explore other interesting topics or people.

Having made nearly 900 episodes covering a wide range of #bitcoin topics and guests, we’re now aiming higher. By diversifying our content and guests, we hope to introduce more people to the concept of sound money through podcast osmosis. If we get this right, it will be a bigger show, if we get it wrong, well we tried.

For a long time I have felt there is a need to get out of the #bitcoin corner of the party. Real Bedford FC was a way of integrating sound money into a traditional business model. CheatCode purposely did not include Bitcoin in the title, so changing the show feels like a natural next step.

Sometimes when stuck in the #bitcoin landscape you can lose site of how other people in the world think, lose empathy for the complexities of the world. I have felt this. I'd come home from spending two weeks with Bitcoiners and be with friends and family locally and notice a distinct difference in how we see the world. As everything feels like it is going to shit, I feel like there is a bigger job to do now.

The Bitcoin podcast landscape is well served, from Marty and Odell to Natalie and Preston, from The Blue Collar guys to Stefan Livera and anyone I haven't mentioned. There’s no shortage of high-quality Bitcoin podcasts.

However, there seems to be some fatigue in the space, with similar guests and topics being revisited. With our new show we want to bring fresh perspectives and ideas, aligning with sound money where relevant—think of the shows we’ve had with the likes of Eric Weinstein and Michael Malice.

On a personal note, I’m need the challenge, test myself wider, get fit and find a good woman. I can't do this travelling all the time.

When I started the podcast my life was a shit show - divorced, coming off drugs, heading towards bankruptcy. I've had an incredible 7 years, travelled the world, made amazing friends and got to live my dream by buying my local football club.

To everyone who has helped us get this far - the guests, the listeners, the sponsors, we could not have done this without you. I am forever in your debt.

I hope you’ll check out the new show and enjoy it, though it may not be for some of you. Regardless, Danny and I will work hard to deliver the best show possible, like we always have.

Roll on The McCormack Show!

damus had a spike of 1000+ new downloads yesterday. welcome nostrich hatchlings!

New on Nostr.

New on Nostr. Trying to understand how it works...

Alby is not a Nostr client. The browser extension just helps to access Nostr web clients without pasting your key in each of these apps.

Let us know what is restrictive then we can improve it for you.

I'm guessing it's Tradingview

The fact that Satoshi had the prescience to have elite opesec from the start of bitcoin, coupled with the fact that he built a peer-to-peer system controlled by no one is one of the most epic moves in human history.

Can I change the default feed that shows up when I open Primal?

Latest w/ replies isn't my favorite, but it always shows