This story is an example of something absolutely impressive that’s way more important that Bitcoin to USD exchange rate.

Samourai Wallet has partnered with goTenna to allow Bitcoin transactions using the power of goTenna’s mesh network. Transactions are broadcast via TxTenna – an Android app that will broadcast your transactions up to 3 goTenna hops away until they reach an online TxTenna user.

goTenna is a company producing devices that allow setting up mesh networks – the p2p devices are connecting to each other and serving as relay nodes for each other’s messages. When cell phones are paired with these devices you can communicate without any Internet connection. Encrypted data gets sent through all available goTenna devices nearby until the recipient is found.

Here’s a great explanation of Mesh networks, and here’s the one-line summary of what they mean to Bitcoin:

15/ Long story short: you don't need the internet to use Bitcoin. — Yassine Elmandjra (@yassineARK) October 8, 2018

This is big news because it presents a practical answer to the “Can Bitcoin work offline” question. Whereas previously it was stated that Bitcoin theoretically does not need the Internet, right now there is a simple and affordable consumer product combo – goTenna devices + any Android smartphone with SamouraiWallet & TxTenna apps on it. These apps are enough to make your Bitcoin transactions without the Internet.

The enemies of Bitcoin are used to pointing out that the network depends on the Internet, and any Internet downtime (due to a disaster or censorship) will lead to the death of Bitcoin. Well, this is a great step towards making Bitcoin more censorship-resistant and less dependent on the Internet.

Here’s a remarkable use case from New Zealand, where a Bitcoin transaction was sent through goTenna devices from an offline phone to an online phone 12.6km away. The latter phone then broadcast the transaction to the Bitcoin network:

Over the weekend I sent a bitcoin transaction to a relay 12.6km away with no cell network or internet connection. Here's a tweetstorm about how I used @gotenna and @SamouraiWallet to do it — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

My original objective was to see if I could use the 4 gotennas that I have to send a transaction 19.2km. Gotenna gives the maximum range in open environments as 6.4 km https://t.co/QemyBZrNM9 — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

I used google maps to find a route in my home town(Auckland, New Zealand) that connected high ground points as close to 6.4 km apart as posssible. The route- One tree hill-Mt Albert-Waikumete Cemetary-Parkinson Lookout- is shown below pic.twitter.com/ZGFz1vM2bn — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

This was the equipment I used- 4x gotenna, $40nzd (26usd) entry level android smartphone with no cellular or wifi connection, and some scrim, clothes pegs and cord to attach and camouflage relay gotennas. Wanted to try @COLDCARDwallet in the mix but ran out of time. Next time! pic.twitter.com/HpaJmdYbMS — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

Next was driving out to the cemetery and Mt Albert locations to setup some concealed relay stations. Gotenna let's you put a device in relay mode where it will passively receieve any messages broadcasted with range and relay them on to other gotennas. pic.twitter.com/CxNe699dRp — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

The mechanics of the setup was https://t.co/7266hhi82Z $40 phone with no connection outside gotenna would broadcast a signed bitcoin transaction generated in samourai wallet as a gotenna message, to my girlfriends phone with a cellular data and gotenna connection. — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

Her phone would recieve the transaction through gotenna, relay it over the internet and if accepted by the bitcoin network her wallet would be credited the balance. My phone= effectively a radio device with a bitcoin wallet and utxos. Her phone= a relay from radio to the internet — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

First transaction was One Tree Hill to Mt.Albert. Direct gotenna to gotenna. Transaction sucessful, Total distance 5.61km. pic.twitter.com/q5yZFV5hId — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

Next I made my way to Waikumete cemetery. This transaction would be relayed from my gotenna, through the one I had stashed on Mt albert, on to my girlfriends phone and gotenna on One Tree Hill. Transaction successful, one hop of 7.06km and another of 5.61km- total 12.67km. pic.twitter.com/tNgJGgeQMe — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

Last hop was planned for Parkinson lookout- 7.15km away. This was pushing the distance but there was great visibility and elevation. Couldn't get this one through. However my girlfriend experienced an app crash and speaking to the samourai guys this may have been why. pic.twitter.com/AlNs3HlApz — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

I attempted a couple on broadcasts on the way down but no luck again. By this time I was needing to get back so had to wrap up testing there. — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

A couple of caveats- due to needing to reconsile spent utxos it's only possible to send one tx offline. Then you need to connect said wallet to the internet otherwise it will reference a spent utxo. Coldcard and other solutions re change addresses maybe an easy fix here — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

Theres no way for the offline broadcaster to know if the transaction has been relayed via the internet or seen by a gotenna device. An acknowledgment message relayed back would be cool. — Coinsure (@Coinsurenz) October 16, 2018

Another impressive use case could be brewing –

Get your own goTenna

Want to get your own goTenna and set up a mesh network? Head over to goTenna.com and use the following coupon to get 15% off:

TxTenna

Once you have it get Samourai Wallet and TxTenna apps on Google PlayStore and start your own censorship-resistant Bitcoin mesh network!

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