Nostr
A censorship-resistant decentralized social network
Centralized platforms like Twitter and Facebook can delete accounts and censor content. Nostr (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) is a decentralized social protocol based on cryptographic key pairs. No one can take your account or delete your posts.
Why Does This Matter?
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3 problems with centralized social media: ① Censorship (government/operator can delete accounts), ② Data selling ('if the service is free, you are the product'), ③ Data breach (government demands or hacking). Nostr solves all three.
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Your identity on Nostr is defined by cryptographic key pairs. No platform can take your account or delete your posts no matter how much they want to.
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The 'Zap' feature integrated with Lightning Network lets you send actual Bitcoin directly to posts you like. A new internet economy where creators earn without ads.
Key Concepts
Nostr identity is defined by a cryptographic key pair. Public key (npub) is your address; secret key (nsec) is your password. Uses the same elliptic curve cryptography (secp256k1) as Bitcoin. Lose the nsec and the account is permanently gone — store it offline safely like a seed phrase.
Every post, comment, DM, and follow is expressed as a JSON 'event.' Relays are servers that store and distribute these events — anyone can run one. Connect to multiple relays simultaneously so your messages reach others even if one relay blocks you.
Real Bitcoin tips sent directly to posts or users via Lightning payments. Zap receipt events are publicly posted to relays for anyone to verify. An internet-native patronage model where creators earn directly without advertising.
Standard protocol for connecting Lightning wallets to Nostr clients. Payments are approved/rejected via private key signature — relays cannot tamper with content. Connect your own Lightning node to maintain full financial sovereignty while sending Zaps.
Nostr protocol extension proposals. NIP-04/17: end-to-end encrypted DM, NIP-05: user@domain.com address format, NIP-23: long-form blog posts, NIP-47 (NWC): wallet connect, NIP-57: Zap functionality.
Encrypted using ECDH (Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman). The encryption key is derived from sender's private key + recipient's public key; the recipient derives the same key using their private key + sender's public key. Even relays cannot read message contents.
Choosing a Client
Primal: most recommended for beginners. Built-in Lightning wallet for instant Zaps. Supports web/iOS/Android
Damus: iOS/macOS only. Connect your own Lightning node via NWC — recommended for Lightning node operators
Amethyst: Android only. Feature-rich, popular among Bitcoiners
Alby Extension: Chrome/Firefox browser extension. Sign events safely without pasting nsec directly into websites
Habla.news: web client for long-form blog posts. Run a censorship-resistant blog via NIP-23
Initial Setup and Security
The app auto-generates your key pair — write your nsec on paper and store it offline. Treat it like a seed phrase
Connect to multiple relays. Even if one relay blocks you, others still deliver your messages
Set up a NIP-05 address (user@domain.com) to create a human-readable Nostr identity
Spam bot comments can be managed with NIP-51 mute lists — without a central admin, users filter themselves
Find Korean Bitcoiners to follow on following.space — discover the domestic community quickly
Nostr and Bitcoin Together
Nostr key pairs use the same elliptic curve cryptography (secp256k1) as Bitcoin — unified under one cryptographic system
Zap: instant near-zero-fee payments via Lightning invoices. Zap receipts are publicly posted to relays, creating transparent patronage culture
NWC (NIP-47): connect your own Lightning node to Nostr clients. Works with Phoenix wallet, LND nodes, and more
Creator support via Zaps: readers decide directly, not algorithms. Earn revenue without advertising
Bitcoin (store/transfer of value) + Nostr (censorship-resistant communication) = foundation of a fully decentralized internet economy
Learning Checklist
Installed a Nostr client and generated a key pair
Backed up secret key (nsec) in a safe offline location
Set up a profile and posted for the first time
Set up a NIP-05 address (user@domain.com format)
Connected a Lightning wallet and sent or received a Zap
Sent a DM and confirmed end-to-end encryption is working