Oddbean

The sad truth is the current infrastructure to hold bitcoin alienates the society that need it the most in Tanzania, and that is heartbreaking. This is a real case study. I meet a security guard who saw me walk to the car and ask me for money for lunch. We got to talking and he told me He is employed. Works 6 days a week. 7am - 5pm Has a wife who works and helps a clean and look after a household He has 2 kids In govt school so no fees. He gets paid 120k Tsh a month…. Has to pay electricity he said cost him 10k Tsh a month and water bill 5k Tsh a month. His phone can’t support playstore or AppStore… so can get him his own lightning wallet at the list. Hardware wallet, no computer. Internet is a luxury. What now… that’s what I am wrestling with and where I want to shine light to. I know about Bitcoin enough to buy it pretty much daily. The only option I can think of is a trusted community bitcoin bank. At the basic level I have an excel with there details and sats they have accumulated and set up a wallet that holds them in and go from there. Waiting for the infrastructure is negligence on my part as far as I am concerned. I can do something and can start from there.

This is a great mindset to have and an excellent reminder, just what I needed to read today. Sometimes you might feel defeated when you hear various problems. Some might take it as a personal attack. But if one can find various solutions and use it as an opportunity to build and grow, then it is going to be a win. nostr:note1wmest3f84k89hm0fmtelalsyv2mlh69kjptz5ran3crwu04q2psq76wrx0

I would need to go searching but I thought there was some solution that was developed especially for the African continent. I feel like it was featured or talked about by the HRF. I’ll go do some research.

As you mentioned somewhere in this thread having a community Bitcoin bank, a node would be a great starting point for this; you can be the source for your community. What is the main issue running a node for you? Hardware too expensive? Internet is not stable?

Yea, I tried to set one up with voltage. The fees per month, I didn’t really understand what I was doing. So I closed it. I was a real novice. But I’d be interested in doing it again if it could benefit the community bank. What would you advise? Using voltage seemed more work in my opinion.

What about a browser wallet like mutiny or alby, no App Store needed just a website. They can write down the seed phrase and receive anytime. Then when they can connect to the internet they can spend for local currency, or better yet other people who will accept for goods.

I think this is the best option. @powa can invest in a community laptop on site. Make it like an internet cafe vibe and then help them create a mutiny wallet/ Alby wallet. We can introduce nfc/bolt cards to be mobile with it as they don’t have internet access beyond the campus…. However they have control on their own wallets….

I think using @OpenSecret at @powa is the way… POWA has internet access and can fundraise for a cheap laptop to use for this purpose and we start from there… Zapped 13 sats to test https://v.nostr.build/2LDX.mp4

I haven’t messed around with it yet but perhaps a fedimint. Multiple people with knowledge can control the mint to prevent a single point of failure. Money can be sent to their account even if they cannot access it. Then when someone wants or gains access to the technology they can take control of their own funds. Like I said I only know what I have heard on podcasts but it might be an option.

Maybe gold would better serve people without the needed infrastructure. Or something like offline.cash. But of course those things haven't reached them for a reason. Maybe these people are out of luck until bitcoin's incentivization of energy production reaches them.

Right now it’s not available in Tanzania. We can get there and i hope we can find a solution in the interim Right now a using @powa as the hub/ internet cafe and assisting in creating an Alby or mutiny wallet is the best option to serve those with no internet access.

The community here are familiar with community banks. Getting loans, micro financing. Creating one with bitcoin is what I am proposing. Creating an accountable reliable custodial service is the quest to serve this group.

Mobile money. You don’t need internet to access a wallet. @8333.mobi has created a lightning wallet that uses sms menu. However Tanzania blocked it. Or cash. Solution I don’t want to do but can only see as viable to get them off zero. Hold their bitcoin for them, use an excel to keep record of amounts. Because also I would be selling bitcoin too. Or Use @powa as the internet cafe and invest in some laptops. Teach them To set up a web lighting wallet. I think the later as they keep custody of the bitcoin. But many are familiar with the top option. So improving POWA infrastructure could serve the community in a big way.

Firstly, those in that society group don’t know about bitcoin. The ways people buy them is on Binance or YelllowCard. The example of the guard I’d create a P2P option where he could buy from me. Send to me via mobile money then I can send him sats. But issue is he doesn’t have a smart phone. That’s where the excel community bank idea comes in. But now thinking of using POWA as an internet cafe and helping them set up an Alby or mutiny.

I see, there are lots challenges at the ground level (no smartphones, internet). It amazes me that Machankura and Azteco aren’t available, but Binance is. It usually is the case that the people who need Bitcoin the most are the ones being “deprived” from it. In that case ignorance is not a bliss. Great idea with making Powa an internet hub/café.

Yea thanks. I think it can be the start as it is going against the grain of the culture too. And also the belief that group can’t access it once they know about it. First step is teaching and second is creating access to it freely. POWA is designed to be a bridge