Can bitcoin be sent, received or traded (used) without the internet?

[MakeMoneyBtc]

No, normally you can't use bitcoin without internet. This means sending, receiving or trading it. This happens because the transaction needs to be accepted and registered by the Blockchain network.
However there could be some exceptions if you use special wallets or exchangers that could transfer bitcoin for you even without internet. But this is not anymore related to your question because you could not use internet but for the original transaction it will be used internet.

[kvipcn]

While has it stands now, Bitcoin can not be sent or traded without the internet. Blockchain technology  basically runs on the internet, thus networks of computers connected together. The key feature of bitcoin is the use of internet for the transaction of funds from one wallet to another.

[Getcoinsite]

I think your question once again exposes one of the big weakness of cryptocurrency. It is generally called digital currency because it involves usage with internet gadget. However, it is even better that the receiver need not be connected to the internet to facilitate the transaction. It would have been nice if there was an option of internet usage and manually. Maybe internet being for faster transaction and manual for those who don't mind waiting  

If you just read post above you then you’ll find some good answer from this best poster I’ve seen in this forum,here it is mate

yes

physical bitcoins. also known initially as casascius coins or paper wallets

as long as you trust the seal and that the original holder(s) do not have or know the private coins because its sealed within the physical bitcoin. then you can swap them hand to hand

You have given me good enough reason to consider offline bitcoin trading and i admit that i dont have that big idea about this until i read your post so thank you

[farosa]

Perhaps you should get in touch with people who are busy with crypto trading in your country. So you can take the money in cash and give private key as a piece of paper. Because Bitcoin was established on the internet and you need people on the internet network to trade.

[Naughty Princess]

It is possible that over time the cryptocurrency market will contribute to the development of the Internet. Unfortunately, for the time being, you will not be able to perform the operations indicated without Internet access.

I also agree.Maybe in the next years,it will be more possible to transact bitcoins even without internet connection.But for now,sending and receiving bitcoin is more dependent in the internet access.If you happen to have a poor connection,i think your transaction might not be successfully done.

I do not think time comes that bitcoin transaction become independent from internet because it is more faster to process having it. It such hard to update the system at that manner. We have internet for the fast processing and there is nothing to change about that. Every transaction is internet dependent. However, if that possible it is good news on every people who have poor internet connection.

[timerland]

I'd say that there are definitely ways. For example, I recall that SMS based bitcoin transactions have been available a long time ago. The relaying of transactions using the mesh technology that you mentioned in the OP could also be a thing that would be possible in the future.

However, for now, I think that the most feasible way to send bitcoins is probably still via the internet.

I don't think this is necessarily a huge concern given the fact that in the very near future, even remote areas would likely have some form of internet coverage or another very soon. But it is a problem that some people in rural areas may not be able to access BTC - although they probably aren't even cognizant of the fact that it exists at the moment.

[Eraldo Coil]

Yes today bitcoin can sent without internet it is called paper wallets. It is also new to me like i only heard it last week and i did some research and its a great way to trade coins. Maybe in the future they will find a way to trade without internet but still using computer.

[btc_angela]

Yes today bitcoin can sent without internet it is called paper wallets. It is also new to me like i only heard it last week and i did some research and its a great way to trade coins. Maybe in the future they will find a way to trade without internet but still using computer.

Perhaps you need to research more about what a paper wallet is, otherwise you completely looks like a just trolling.
Its impossible to received bitcoin without internet because you have to broadcast your transaction.

[trecore4]

Interesting project but isn't the mesh network is also indirectly working over the internet access only ? I mean its liking sending some bits over the internet and recording it for the further activity until the time mesh comes online with next connection. I am not sure how this really is working but seems to me one and the same thing at all.

I was hoping to see a answer where we will have physical appliance of the bitcoin, lets say in the form of QR Barcodes printed with specific value of the bitcoin over the paper. If you want to make the payment then just hand it over to the buyer or seller accordingly and he/she may use it whenever they want. The bitcoin could be stored over the public wallet which will act as bank. I guess something like this can work out very well.

[hdtqisg]

No internet, transaction not confirmed by network. Some applications will allow validation when there is internet, some may change! To be safe, every successful transaction must be confirmed online!

[adzino]

If both of the person are in two different places and you want to send him bitcoins, then it is not possible to do so for now without the internet. You need to be connected to the internet to do so. Even if you manage to sign the transaction offline, it must be broadcasted to the blockchain which will require the internet. You can trade p2p with paper wallet, but the issuer must be extremely trusted.

[DooMAD]

yes

physical bitcoins. also known initially as casascius coins or paper wallets

as long as you trust the seal and that the original holder(s) do not have or know the private coins because its sealed within the physical bitcoin. then you can swap them hand to hand

You have given me good enough reason to consider offline bitcoin trading and i admit that i dont have that big idea about this until i read your post so thank you

I'm afraid you haven't been given very good advice there.

Physical bitcoins in an actual 'coin' form are generally seen as collectors' items.  It might sound like a good idea, but in practice, they're not common enough to be used on a regular basis.  The "trust" issue also shouldn't be understated.  If someone gains access the private key, that physical coin loses its value.  And since pseudonymity makes it difficult to tell who accessed the private key, someone might accuse you of trying to scam them if you inadvertently gave them a physical coin where the BTC stored inside it had already been stolen.  You would have to manually check each coin on a blockchain explorer before you try to spend it.  

Trading paper wallets is dangerous, as the person who made the paper wallet could easily keep a copy of the key.  There are serious security risks to trading physical bitcoins.  Exchanging private keys hand-to-hand is not how Bitcoin is designed to be used.  I strongly advise against doing that.

It's far safer to get a hardware wallet and then learn how to use PSBT to send "offline" transactions from them.  And accept payments from those who have done the same.

[Johnzky]

yes

physical bitcoins. also known initially as casascius coins or paper wallets

as long as you trust the seal and that the original holder(s) do not have or know the private coins because its sealed within the physical bitcoin. then you can swap them hand to hand

Is the physical bitcoin function as virtual bitcoin?I mean the value of this two are the same?

And can you let me know hows this work and how can i have this since i have some bitcoin on my electronic wallet?Hope your generous enough to enlighten me about this because i am really interested having and using this physical bitcoin

[clonely]

You must transfer Bitcoin online. With paper wallet, it is possible to transfer money without internet, but it is not very reliable. Because someone knows more private key.

But there is a project working on it. Kora Network. You can have a look. A project that can work even with SMS codes. But I don't know how much it can happen.

[Pasaway2701]

Yes today bitcoin can sent without internet it is called paper wallets. It is also new to me like i only heard it last week and i did some research and its a great way to trade coins. Maybe in the future they will find a way to trade without internet but still using computer.

Perhaps you need to research more about what a paper wallet is, otherwise you completely looks like a just trolling.
Its impossible to received bitcoin without internet because you have to broadcast your transaction.

I also agree. It is impossible to transact without internet because it is developed dependent into it. Even companies need internet for fast processing and transfer of documents even updating of their data. Bitcoin price needs to be updated every time because the price change daily. Remember that poor internet connection failed the transfer what more going to happen when there is totally no internet access for bitcoin. It is impossible.

[xena2]

Internet is a wireless connection of computers, I think it can be sent in a local network wireless or wired even it is sent web based it can be sent just like any other sharing method,  it is digital which can be shared with/without data.

[hdtqisg]

No internet, we have nothing, so the transaction is confirmed need a network of Node. No internet, no Node

[xtrump101]

I think, for while, you will not be able to send, receive and trade bitcoin without the internet. internet is a very important aspect in the crypto world.

but I heard that cointext makes gadgets that have services to transact without internet. cointext uses the sms protocol. and today is being tested in several countries such as in England, Sweden, Netherlands, and others.

maybe you can try using that gadget.

Where in the world do you have SMS but no internet?

Africa has basically ignored landlines and gone straight to mobile telephony including internet. If you can SMS then 3 or 4G should be available to you as well. In many areas they have better coverage than supposedly first world areas.

yeah i agree to this in fact africa because of government restriction and banning on bitcoins people trade their through wattsapp using smartphones, and with regards to offline payment yes its possible using paper wallet, but overall its internet to make paper wallet and broadcasting of transactions.

[butcherme]

I don't think that it would be possible,
How could the system verify it if it wouldn't go through the internet?

[cizatext]

I'm from Nigeria and as you all know, Nigeria is a developing country and when it comes to internet connections we're not there yet. I live in the city area but travelled to my village few days ago for an occasions. On the way, I got a call from a friend requesting to buy $550 worth of bitcoin, I tried sending the coins to his wallet (he's a regular buying so I already have his wallet) but the transaction refused to go through because their was no internet connection. When I finally got to my village the transaction went successfully because we had internet.

After this experience I thought about other remote villages in Nigeria and African countries that don't have the Internet 24hours if they were to use Bitcoin (cryptocurrency in general) for day to day transaction can this be done without the internet?

I tried searching the web but couldn't find any post that gives me a satisfying answer, so decided to contact forum user.


Edited: 04|10|2018 Can anyone verify this information, how accurate is it?.

Good timing on posting this question now.  Some recent advancements have just been made in this area.  The latest version of Bitcoin Core has implemented 'Partially Signed Bitcoin Transactions', or PSBT for short.  It will effectively enable users to send transactions while offline in some circumstances.

Also just saw a post on facebook saying


The writer went forward to explain, 'The mesh network works for every 4miles until it gets to the nearest access to the internet. That's to say you can send bitcoin through the mesh network from one mesh to another within 4miles until you get the nearest access to the internet".

For now I don't think bitcoin sending and receiving can be done without the internet as the blockchain is a new technology that has no physical value and no bitcoin bank yet even the blockchain that is the digital bank only exist on the internet so at that the internet is the life wire of bitcoin and the blockchain entirely.