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by l0ng1nu5 792 days ago
Bitcoin doesn't require internet, the blockstream satellites broadcast the block chain as well.

https://blockstream.com/satellite/

2 comments

Approximately nobody will have that during wartime either.
this is hilarous, I mean, there's a literal satellite constellation beaming the blockchain and the argument is "nuh-uh!"

I guess that until a satellite shoots a wad of bills through your window some people won't give it credit.

A satellite constellation is only half of a network. And a system that nobody can actually use is not a useful or functional system. Approximately nobody has a receiver for this network today. The receivers won't fall out of the sky tomorrow if war breaks out.

And even if everyone did have receivers, commercial satellites are highly regulated by most nations, likely will be targeted during any future major war, and there's no guarantee they won't be coopted for other uses by their host nations. Blockstream is a tiny company and doesn't even own or operate any of these satellites. You might as well just use viasat or iridium.

No Internet required - just a $500 "Blockstream" Satellite receiver device!
IIRC you could build your own kit with a software defined radio device.

you just needed a recycled satellite dish and some other off the shelf components.

If people need to put in that much work, it won't be of much use to buy groceries with it, as the kid at the grocery store can't even spell SDR. If it were me, I'd spend my effort rebuilding terrestrial IP networks over copper instead. It would be more useful.
This is why Bitcoin maxis are ultimately delusional. They think the world revolves around them and, no matter what happens, they will always be at the top.