One often-heard comment is how the governments can end Bitcoin by shutting off the Internet globally. While that certainly would cause problems, there are other ways to broadcast network transactions. Exploring some of these options may prove worthwhile for the future.
Amateur Radio Waves
It may sound at first, but amateur radio can serve a positive purpose in the Bitcoin industry. Should you ever find yourself in a position where the Internet is censored heavily or unavailable, it is still possible to perform Bitcoin transactions. While it does take significant preparation to set everything up, the option cannot be ignored.
Some may think it is a new approach to sending Bitcoin transactions via amateur radio. That isn’t the case necessarily, as this technology has been in use since 2014. It took some time to perfect the technology, and there is still room for future improvements.
BAM! #Bitcoin sent over 7.077Mhz via #JS8Call to @SamuelPatt
Sweep: https://t.co/mLGREGXXN0
Toronto,CAN => Michigan,USA [40W:#SnowStorm]
Bcuz its a brainwallet made ahead of time, with bearer pk I don't require internet to broadcast this transaction at the time i'm sending pic.twitter.com/OzcbMEvYw0
— ECC OPTIMISM AMOEBA (@nvk) February 12, 2019
In its current form, there are still severe limitations to this approach. Using gotenna hardware and Samourai Wallet will go a long way for small-distance transfers. Those who want to send Bitcoin further may need a combination of equipment, such as what was used during the experiment above.
The Blockstream Satellite
One of the more recent options to come to market is the Blockstream Satellite receiver. For those unaware, Blockstream launched a satellite a while ago to put a Bitcoin node in space. Through the Satellite Receiver, one can passively receive Bitcoin data without an internet connection.
The Receiver supports different software and hardware wallets, depending on your personal preferences. You can find a more detailed guide on how to set everything up on the Blockstream website.
Pony Direct
For those who prefer a mobile-based approach to sending Bitcoin transactions, Pony Direct for Android is an option worth checking out. It allows users to transmit Bitcoin network transactions via SMS, a technology that will often be accessible even if the Internet may not be.
Transactions can be sent via a Pony Relay, or you can set up your number as an SMS relay. It is a great little tool with tremendous potential, as it doesn’t require too much special “knowledge” to create the proper SMS payload. While the code hasn’t been updated in a while, there is still a lot to like about this concept.
SMSPushTX
A service very similar to Pony Direct goes by the name of SMSPushTX. It is a solution to push Bitcoin transactions via SMS over Nexmo. It is possible to use alternative providers, including Twilio, but one with a cheap virtual number may prove preferable. A more detailed guide on using this tool can be found here.
None of the information on this website is investment or financial advice and does not necessarily reflect the views of CryptoMode or the author. CryptoMode is not responsible for any financial losses sustained by acting on information provided on this website by its authors or clients. Always conduct your research before making financial commitments, especially with third-party reviews, presales, and other opportunities.
