Nostr it’s an open protocol where you control your identity, your words, and your digital presence. Here’s how to participate with clarity, privacy, and purpose.

Intentional communication in Nostr

In a world where centralised platforms decide what you may say, who hears you, and how your attention is monetised, Nostr emerges as a radically simple alternative: an open protocol with no central servers, no engagement algorithms, and no owners.

Nostr is not an app. It is a layer of verifiable communication, built on cryptography and open standards. Your identity—your private key—is non-transferable. Your messages replicate across multiple relays, but no one can silence you as long as at least one relay remains active.

Why does this matter for Bitcoin users?

Because financial sovereignty and communicative sovereignty are inseparable.
If you trust banks with your money, you depend on them.
If you trust centralised networks with your voice, you depend on them.

Nostr breaks that dependency—and does so without unnecessary complexity.

How to begin: three intentional steps

1. Generate your identity (offline, if possible)

Your identity in Nostr is your keypair:

Private key (nsec): never share it. It is your digital signature.
Public key (npub): your public address, like a username.

👉 Recommended approach: use damus:// or nostr.com in a private browser window, or generate your key offline with tools like nostril (Python) on an isolated machine.

🔒 Privacy practice: If generating your key online, do so in an ephemeral session (Tails, disposable VM). Never store your nsec in the cloud.

2. Choose public relays wisely

You don’t need to self-host a relay. Simply connect to several public ones. Look for relays that:

Are active: verify their status on directories like nostr.watch or relaylist.io
Are inclusive: do not arbitrarily filter content (avoid relays with opaque moderation policies)
Support essential NIPs:
- NIP-01 (basic format)
- NIP-05 (human identity verification)
- NIP-57 (Zaps / Lightning payments)

Example initial configuration (5 balanced relays):

wss://relay.damus.io
wss://nos.lol
wss://relay.nostr.band
wss://nostr.mutinywallet.com
wss://eden.nostr.land

⚠️ Important: Do not rely on a single relay. Use at least 3–5 for redundancy.

3. Publish with intention

Every message on Nostr can include:

Clear text
References to your node (e.g., “My node: [onion address]”)
Lightning payment requests (Zaps)
Links to your work or services (preferably self-hosted)

Thus, your Nostr presence becomes not just social, but an extension of your technical autonomy.

Connecting with your node and Lightning

If you already run a Bitcoin Knots node:

Optionally set up a lightweight relay (with nostrocket or strfry)
Enable incoming Zaps in your Nostr client
Post updates about your node or shop directly from your identity

This closes the loop: you communicate, receive value, and verify everything from your own infrastructure.

Final reflection

Nostr promises no audience and no virality. It promises something more valuable: permanence, ownership, and freedom.
Your voice doesn’t disappear if a company goes bankrupt.
Your words aren’t sold if an algorithm changes.

In Nostr, you are the network. And that, in these times, is revolutionary.

Would you like to explore this live?

On Thursday, 12 February at 15:00 (Berlin time), I’ll host a virtual session titled “Your voice on the open network: first steps in Nostr”.

Together, we’ll learn how to create your identity, choose reliable relays, and connect your digital presence to your Bitcoin node.

The session is accessible to beginners and advanced users alike.
Payment in sats (Lightning) —because autonomy begins with direct exchange.

Thread

Your voice on the open network