Bitcoin without internet: SMS service allows sending BTC with a text

[zasad@]

https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-without-internet-sms-service-allows-sending-btc-with-a-text

https://twitter.com/rakgatjane/status/1558059603258220548?cxt=HHwWiIC98Yi9q58rAAAA

"As a result, Lightning wallet-compatible apps on phones or computers can send Bitcoin over the Lightning Network to the phone’s number—it has effectively become a Lightning address. Machankura has integrated with Bitrefill, an increasingly popular prepaid gift card service for Bitcoin in Africa. Plus, as of Wednesday, South Africans will be able to top up their Lighting Wallets with credit from grocery stores in a partnership with “One for you,” a voucher provider. "

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[DaveF]

Now that is cool. I really like to see innovations like this. It seems more and more bitrefill is partnering with people who want to spread the use of BTC
Since it's LN the fees are negligible and it makes it easy to get people to use BTC without worrying about fees and other things.

Will be keeping an eye on it.

OT Side thought: Bitcointalk really needs a remind me bot because I can see us discussing this for a bit and then forgetting about it but I would like to see how it's going in a few months.

-Dave

[kryptqnick]

I think the idea of making Bitcoin more accessible in Africa is a great one, and if people there text but don't use the Internet often, then the SMS version makes sense. I remember a time around 15 years ago when in my country people tended to talk via SMS texts on button-based mobile phones, for instance. Judging from the screenshot in the article, though, I think it's about smartphones.
The service is custodial, so that's a big downside. My other concern would be about safety, as I believe SMS aren't that secure...

[hd49728]

What is cryptography behind this to help?

And what will happen if the SMS receiver don't claim their sats within 7 days?

I think the idea for this innovation is very great but not sure is it safe. It is like using a third party service like you don't trade directly with your trade partner but you do this via a middle man.

And SMS is a bit unsafe. Bringing Bitcoin to more people should not contain more risk for them.

[NdaMk]

It's actually a great innovation mostly to Africans as some areas are still lacking in the issue of Internet. But the case of sms having to involve the network providers as Third party isn't that a security problem. And what happens when the receive has a slight network issue and the sms is arrives late? Does this innovation has a solution in check for that

[masulum]

And what will happen if the SMS receiver don't claim their sats within 7 days?

According to the news, this services integrated with Bitrefill in order to redeem the voucher code. We know, every time there is a time limit on a promotion or gift, what happens if it is not redeemed? yep, it means that voucher is forfeited. Most likely, the BTC that reported send to someone, but not being redeemed, it will return to the gift giver's wallet. of course maybe will deducted for fees.
Here some informations of this services:

Code:

Website: https://8333.mobi/
Github: https://github.com/machankura
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Machankura8333

maybe you wanna try, just used the site, or asked to them from twitter if you have other questions

[Wakate]

I will still stick to Bitcoin transactions using the normal internet service to process everything including the gas fee. The use of sms to process transaction can be time consuming especially when service provider is having some difficulties in balancing stable network. I have seen most time sending an sms to friends delays or could not go through because of this same network issues. Receiving SMS can be troublesome most times so I don't rely on it.

[franky1]

OT Side thought: Bitcointalk really needs a remind me bot because I can see us discussing this for a bit and then forgetting about it but I would like to see how it's going in a few months.

-Dave

innovation
there are many diary/calender apps that you can use to set an event where the note is a URL..

[mk4]

Now that is cool. I really like to see innovations like this. It seems more and more bitrefill is partnering with people who want to spread the use of BTC
Since it's LN the fees are negligible and it makes it easy to get people to use BTC without worrying about fees and other things.

Totally caught me off guard as well. Seeing the article headline, I automatically assumed it was solely a centralized database interaction à la like Coinbase<->Coinbase transactions. Well, surprisingly it actually uses LN.

[franky1]

Now that is cool. I really like to see innovations like this. It seems more and more bitrefill is partnering with people who want to spread the use of BTC
Since it's LN the fees are negligible and it makes it easy to get people to use BTC without worrying about fees and other things.

Totally caught me off guard as well. Seeing the article headline, I automatically assumed it was solely a centralized database interaction à la like Coinbase<->Coinbase transactions. Well, surprisingly it actually uses LN.

its a hybrid of both.

people WITH smartphones that are internet enabled can go to a retail store, buy a certain giftcard and redeem that for LN msats via bitrefills. and then send them msats to the service.
where the service then uses its central database to credit peoples SMS number in its mysql database with a allotment of sats(custodian) on its centralised database

those using 2g only (GSM) can then send a message to the central service to request transfers of central database balance/custodian to other peoples SMS number

this system is not about setting up a LN channel for every single SMS user. as there is just is not enough liquidity or (i wont mention al other issues) to perform that.

the important thing is the OR in their description of the service. it reveals alot that its not 100% LN nor 100% bitcoin network

Every registered user can send and receive Bitcoin to their phone number from other Machankura users or to their machankura lightning address.

[Rruchi man]

I will still stick to Bitcoin transactions using the normal internet service to process everything including the gas fee.

Don't be too rigid, this innovation may still turn out to be something very useful. What we need to look out for at the moment is the sustainability of this new development, how long will this SMS service permit this sending of btc via text? I'm certain there will be a lot of observers unto that regards, and truly if it proves sustainable, this is another welcome development that will spread quickly to other countries.

[dkbit98]

It's interesting idea of SMS for sending Bitcoin BUT it can also connect your identity with your Bitcoin addresses, so I would only use this with anon prepaid numbers.
If I understand correctly this is Lightning Network, so it's not directly connected with BTC address, but problem could be that most people probably run custodial LN wallets on their phones.
I hope nobody will arrest him for making this publicly :/

[Findingnemo]

https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-without-internet-sms-service-allows-sending-btc-with-a-text

https://twitter.com/rakgatjane/status/1558059603258220548?cxt=HHwWiIC98Yi9q58rAAAA

"As a result, Lightning wallet-compatible apps on phones or computers can send Bitcoin over the Lightning Network to the phone’s number—it has effectively become a Lightning address. Machankura has integrated with Bitrefill, an increasingly popular prepaid gift card service for Bitcoin in Africa. Plus, as of Wednesday, South Africans will be able to top up their Lighting Wallets with credit from grocery stores in a partnership with “One for you,” a voucher provider. "

It is good news and in the past also we had service providers of sending BTC via SMS or without internet but it hasn't been that much successful even though bitcoin community is growing everyday. I wonder even in 2022 still we are lack of internet coverage atleast 2G?

If I am not wrong people who have smartphones and experiencing internet is higher than people who are using toilets so we almost have internet everywhere.

[m2017]

What is cryptography behind this to help?

And what will happen if the SMS receiver don't claim their sats within 7 days?

The expiration date for bitcoin is something new. I suspect that after this period the gift can't be used, that's all, and the money will be returned to the sender, or rather, the recipient will not receive it.

What is cryptography behind this to help?
I think the idea for this innovation is very great but not sure is it safe. It is like using a third party service like you don't trade directly with your trade partner but you do this via a middle man.

And SMS is a bit unsafe. Bringing Bitcoin to more people should not contain more risk for them.

The more ways to send and receive BTC, the better it will be for the bitcoin network, because it makes the network more viable and ready for any trouble.

Don't worry about the fact that the execution of this idea is not perfect. Look at it as a prototype that will be improved or new alternatives will be invented. We don't know what kind of technology will be able to gain a foothold in the crypto community. The main thing here is to try and look for solutions in the process of which we can get something new and better.

[Danydee]

Bitcoin without internet: SMS service allows sending BTC with a text

This could also work for Bitcoin network :

A service providing by sms request the necessary outputs for signing the transaction, then you sign the transaction in an application and send the transaction hash for pushing it!

This can be done by commands like for example:

Code:

/send: (address-X) (address-Y) (amount)

then

/push-tx: (hash)

[masulum]

Well I try to ask them via twitter with same questions as @hd49728 posts

here their answer:

Hello thanks for the questions.

This is a custodial Bitcoin lightning wallet. So we hold and transact sats on behalf of users.

Depending on how they were sent the sats are allocated back to the user (if they were sent via lightning then no way to allocate them back so best the sats are gifted using the service).

It is a third party service. Users that can use non-custodial solutions like bluewallet and phoenix wallet are more welcome to do so (we highly recommend they do so).

Bringing Bitcoin to more people should not contain more risk as compared to what? We invite anyone with the capital to push Bitcoin adoption without the risks associated with the African infrastructure to do so and they will have our full public support as they are doing it.

On a seperate note, we see this as a stepping stone to Bitcoin adoption (a hot wallet if you wish). But at the end of the GSM medium will be the medium we will be exploring to bring Bitcoin adoption moving forward. We also will have an open source project where we explore using the sim card as a hardware wallet (because of javacard functionalities). And create a GSM interface for the "electrum" like features.

Screenshot from original messages


hopefully this answer give an informations about our concern.

[Zlantann]

Although this innovation has some defects but it is a welcomed development. Giving people that lacks internet service the opportunity to access Bitcoin transaction is a good starting point. I am sure other innovations would come in future that would offer better and safer service to customers. Africa has one of the biggest market for Bitcoin because of it's high population of unbanked individuals. I am really thrilled because regardless of the challenges, the gospel of Bitcoin is spreading in Africa.

[Accardo]

Plus, the service is custodial, a point that works against the Bitcoin ethos of “not your keys, not your coins.” So, he is looking for a way to use SIM cards as private keys.

Using Sim cards as private keys is a red flag, though the technology will help disseminate the use of Bitcoin in Africa as the use of USSD is rampant than the mobile app usage or even internet banking in Africa. On the other hand if a phone is stolen the Sim card which is the private key can be compromised and the person's fund will be missing forever. I think with time everything will be put in place, it's a new innovation.

[Mr. Magkaisa]

https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-without-internet-sms-service-allows-sending-btc-with-a-text

https://twitter.com/rakgatjane/status/1558059603258220548?cxt=HHwWiIC98Yi9q58rAAAA
"As a result, Lightning wallet-compatible apps on phones or computers can send Bitcoin over the Lightning Network to the phone’s number—it has effectively become a Lightning address. Machankura has integrated with Bitrefill, an increasingly popular prepaid gift card service for Bitcoin in Africa. Plus, as of Wednesday, South Africans will be able to top up their Lighting Wallets with credit from grocery stores in a partnership with “One for you,” a voucher provider. "

- If I look at it, it's too cool for me, If its development is good in their country, it can also be implemented for sure in every country that also
  has a lot of crypto enthusiasts. Because today you can only make bitcoin transactions via the internet or our mobile device must have a data
  connection. This is when the implementation happens in our countries, we can no longer load our phone devices just to have a data
  connection.

Although this innovation has some defects but it is a welcomed development. Giving people that lacks internet service the opportunity to access Bitcoin transaction is a good starting point. I am sure other innovations would come in future that would offer better and safer service to customers. Africa has one of the biggest market for Bitcoin because of it's high population of unbanked individuals. I am really thrilled because regardless of the challenges, the gospel of Bitcoin is spreading in Africa.

- Africa was one of the biggest country in the whole world and one of the poor country as well according to my knowledge.
  But even if their country's situation is like that, there is a strong community of bitcoin industry among them that they can also be a way to
  help lift their economy and reduce poverty in the future. So it's really good to start this innovation in their community there.

[Bobrox]

I think the idea of making Bitcoin more accessible in Africa is a great one, and if people there text but don't use the Internet often, then the SMS version makes sense. I remember a time around 15 years ago when in my country people tended to talk via SMS texts on button-based mobile phones, for instance. Judging from the screenshot in the article, though, I think it's about smartphones.
The service is custodial, so that's a big downside. My other concern would be about safety, as I believe SMS aren't that secure...

Not all countries and region get good internet speed service and sending bitcoin by SMS mobile phone not safety in my country, easy duplicate the same mobile phone number and I worried with the safety assets if really ability sending and controlling with mobile phone. Although with easy way when sending without have access with internet but negative side with some country less controlling safety with number phone duplicate. Happened last years when some one in my country travelling to other country and his real local number duplicate by the other until he loss much money on his bank after hacker success log in in his bank account and get SMS verification by duplicate mobile phone number.

[Myleschetty]

This is a cool innovative idea but with the little, I read about it good knowledge is needed to make use of the service. However, I think the major area that I believe Bitcoin needs more attention and innovative ideas is the Bitcoin mining area so it will be more eco-friendly.

[TelolettOm]

This is such very good progress. Bitcoin in fact can really exist. However, it must be very difficult if there is no internet. Although there may be certain alternative to be still able to use Bitcoin, no internet will really challenge many things because we know that almost all things are here connected with the internet.
But, at east we have known that there is some alternativs.
anyway, related to this option, so far, I am still not baleto use this.

[davis196]

The idea of using your phone number as some kind of unique ID in order to send and receive money isn't revolutionary or groundbreaking.
Paypal started this concept, but with emails.
I wonder why no crypto company hasn't successfully implemented this "send BTC via text" idea years ago. There must be something that is stopping them to do this.
I'm no expert in this field, but aren't text messages supposed to be charged a fee by the phone companies, that sell SIM cards?
If this crypto company supports 100% free text messages(in which you could send and receive BTC), them count me in.

[GreatArkansas]

Very applicable to most rural areas or remote areas that got no totally mobile data or internet connection, I already experienced this in some parts of our countries where there is no total internet connection from your mobile phone, you can only use SMS or phone call.
Great innovation, this could also help to become a key to introducing Bitcoin to some people who don't really have access to internet connection.

[Ever-young]

Impressive, to me the development is good but I don't see any much different from what we are already using on other centralized exchange where users are allowed to send diff kinds of crypto across to another buy just using their email, or mobile number or the pay ID, which if done by mobile you will be giving you some days to claim or it will reverse to the original sender, same thing is happing with Binance. Those transactions are not recorded on the Blockchain which equally means that they are centralized assets which are just moving from accounts to account.
Another thing here is if this is successful achieved and a way to send btc without internet like they title the article the account creation where the user will receive the btc was will they use in creating the account if not internet, or will their be any server which will not need internet for it to be accessed.
Even if transacting without internet is made possible which I doubt. It's unhealthy to btc entirely for blocks are achieved through mining and minners are able to do this through power and internet.

My opinion btc is better off being transacted with the help of the internet, everything transparent and decentralized.
The sms sending can alone be used between users of same platform for gifting.

[|MINER|]

snip

This is incredible! . This Innovation is gonna be very useful specially sometimes when we go for tour and that out of the range of internet signal there we face problem with btc transaction so this is the solve of that problem. And it will be also useful to these 3rd world countries where internet isn't available that much . Thanks for bringing news this to us, I was ignorant about it.

[Agbe]

Using celular phones (GSM) to transact BITCOIN would have been one of the best option but I am afraid of using text message to send bitcoin because even the fiat currency (money) that we are using have scam by fake text messages of bank alerts mostly Point of sale (POS) workers. POS operators are the target of the fraudsters, so if bitcoin is allowed in sms to make trasaction, my brothers and sisters that is where the main issue will start. Peopple will receive fade bitcoin alert more than now if there is any for now. I do not know if the South Africa software developers have gotten the real coding to prevent the fade alert because sms does not need internet but sim card network only. But if the innovation is well secured then the idea of using TEXT for the transaction is a good one. If the innovation works well in South Africa then other countries can follow suit. But as for now I am some how skeptical. Because I am afraid of the fake alert

[Fivestar4everMVP]

To be able to send and receive Bitcoin without internet would indeed be a ground breaking innovation which I believe, will act as a catalyst to the bitcoin adoption worldwide.

But I have a question - if we are able to send bitcoin through a text message, will the text message be from a Bitcoin wallet app or is it from a normal text messaging  app?
(forgive me if this is explained in the article,  I have clearly not read it,  but I've saved it to read later)

[_BlackStar]

But I have a question - if we are able to send bitcoin through a text message, will the text message be from a Bitcoin wallet app or is it from a normal text messaging  app?

Because the cellphone number has become a Lightning address, I think third-party services that are integrated with GSM will send notifications to the cellphone. These are notifications from third party services just as you receive notifications from other services when you bind a mobile number. I could be wrong, but something like that seems reasonable.

[Piesel]

If I am not wrong people who have smartphones and experiencing internet is higher than people who are using toilets so we almost have internet everywhere.

Ops you may be right and also wrong on this statement, if you consider the percentage of illiteracy and underdevelopment in some part of the world most especially in Africa you will discover that very high number of the populace still have no internet enable devices. And if you read through the link posted by ops you will have seen the percentage of citizens from that countrycarry out financial transaction through the USSD which is an off net Mobile network services the rate was pegged at 94% which is an incredibly high rate.

So the presence of internet is still very low in that region because just 6% use their internet apps to carry out transaction so the new Bitcoin transfer via sms is a big breakthrough if the project pull through to mainstream.

[buwaytress]

Didn't see this before and this is exactly what works in regions like Africa. I probably repeat myself too much on how I was amazed a decade ago with Mpesa -- it's all about mobile service in places where data/internet is a premium, if at all available!

Hats off to Bitrefill, surprised they didn't advertise it on their own site (or I didn't see it).

@findingnemo: in South Africa maybe, but still large swathes of the South who use GPRS phones. Or can't access data. Heck, I just went back home to my own village in a country that is high on the "HDI" list and we don't have data =)

[Findingnemo]

If I am not wrong people who have smartphones and experiencing internet is higher than people who are using toilets so we almost have internet everywhere.

Ops you may be right and also wrong on this statement, if you consider the percentage of illiteracy and underdevelopment in some part of the world most especially in Africa you will discover that very high number of the populace still have no internet enable devices. And if you read through the link posted by ops you will have seen the percentage of citizens from that countrycarry out financial transaction through the USSD which is an off net Mobile network services the rate was pegged at 94% which is an incredibly high rate.

So the presence of internet is still very low in that region because just 6% use their internet apps to carry out transaction so the new Bitcoin transfer via sms is a big breakthrough if the project pull through to mainstream.

Talking about Africa there are different extremes, some countries got better infrastructure and some are still at the growing stage but sooner they will get what the whole world is using. And also we no need to take the literacy percentage into the concept of money and technology because its statement used to cover up but in reality people who don't even learn the numbers are good at managing their finance then who actually graduation in the particular field.

[bitcampaign]

I used to think what if we are somewhere and there is no internet network there then we have to send money to someone, finally I found the answer here and it seems very interesting if this continues to be developed because it will really help bitcoin widely adopted

[danadc]

This seems to me to be a very good option, through SMS is something great, but I think there must be another option that does not depend so much on the signals of a telephone, if there is a great catastrophe and if the antennas of these telephones fall how could it be done? The most likely thing here is to use signals given by satellites or find another way to send those data packets, but I really like that through SMS so that they don't have to depend on the Internet.
In third world countries the signals fail, but it would be an option for the communication lines to cover these cases.