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#259: Bitcoin layer 3, empowering dissidents, and the power of the Lightning Network with Chase Perkins

6/15/2021 · 84 min · transcript via mlx

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Key topics

— Impervious.ai is building a "layer three" application on Bitcoin and Lightning Network that enables peer-to-peer, censorship-resistant communication and data transfer without intermediaries.

— The Impervious VPN works by using Lightning Network KeySend to establish ephemeral, cryptographically secure channels between users; once the connection ends, there is no retroactive data trail to inspect.

— Beyond VPN, the Impervious API will allow developers to build censorship-resistant applications including podcasts, social networks, video platforms, and publishing tools without requiring users to understand Bitcoin or Lightning.

— The core moral argument is that intermediaries (Facebook, Twitter, cloud providers) are unnecessary custodians of user data and vulnerable to hacks, breaches, and authoritarian control; data should only be stored when essential.

— User privacy and freedom of thought are as important as sound money; Bitcoin enables both economic empowerment and protection against information dominance and retroactive data manipulation (as seen with the CCP).

— Node selection and routing through Lightning enables users to choose which jurisdictions and routing nodes their traffic passes through, reducing reliance on centralized VPN providers.

Market & price signals

— None discussed.

Actionable insights

— Developers can sign up at impervious.ai to request early access to the public API launching in the coming weeks; users provide only an email and will be notified of progress and timeline.

— Impervious team is hiring rapidly and planning a significant hiring spree by end of summer; interested candidates can reach out to support@impervious.ai or via Twitter.

— Layer three development on Bitcoin and Lightning is moving from theory to practice; the value proposition of censorship-resistant, peer-to-peer infrastructure is becoming tangible rather than abstract.

Episode sponsorships

Paid placements mentioned in this episode. BTC Pods is not sponsored by or affiliated with these advertisers. Links are included so you can find offers mentioned on the show.

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