Minimum requirements to send a bitcoin signed message?

[SeeBiscuit]

Context: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5493116

"No, it's a p2p digital currency.".

Yes, but from a technical standpoint bitcoin displays traits associated with social networking. It's definitely not a easy-to-use social network (for most people), that's for sure. The only difference is, any identifying features of the user are usually replaced with random strings of numbers and letters.

-connection between two users
-communication between two users
-sharing of information between two users
-forming of relationships between two users

On the other hand, definitions of social media usually describe a service that enables the ability for a user to create and share content, or to participate in the act of social networking.

From what I understand, bitcoin doesn't support or really have a use for user generated content sharing and uploading. It's currency after all, not Instagram.  

But it's currency that let's you talk to another person with the only requirement being they are using the same software.

_____________________________________________________________

Of the three options, I think bitcoin is a social network.

What do you think?

The user replied:

Thing is, "the only requirement being they are using the same software" isn't quite true. There's another requirement, and that is having the money to send a transaction (or a message, as would be the case).

So instead of responding to him by talking out of my ass, I'd rather ask here.

Do you need sats to send a bitcoin signed message? Or is the only requirement that both parties involved are using the same version of the same software?

Thanks! <3

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[Helena Yu]

Bitcoin signed message is free, I think you're talking about OP_Return message?

According to @Coding Enthusiast, it's similar to normal transactions. But there were some examples that you will spend more depend on how long the message you created.

Nearly the same as when you make a payment to a legacy address!

TX Size =
4 byte version
1 byte txInCount
  TxIn:
  36 byte outpoint
  1 byte scriptLength
  72 byte script
  33 byte public key
  4 byte sequence
1 byte txOutCount
  txOut:
  8 byte amount
  1 byte size of script
  1 byte OP_Return + 1 byte size of the data + (0 to 40 bytes)
4 byte locktime

Min size=167 bytes
Multiply that with fee in satoshi/byte unit and you will get how much it can cost.
If you use SegWit then you have to calculate virtual size which is 89 vbytes so it an cost even less.

[Upgrade00]

Do you need sats to send a bitcoin signed message? Or is the only requirement that both parties involved are using the same version of the same software?

No you do not need sats to send a Bitcoin signed message, but a Bitcoin signed message is not meant for communication, but for verification that someone is in ownership of a particular private key. Signed messages are not part of the blockchain, you have to send the message, address and signature to the other party and they verify it to be genuine.

If you want to include a text (OP_RETURN) to a transaction which will be added to the blockchain and be immutable, you'll pay fees like with all transactions.

[nc50lc]

Do you need sats to send a bitcoin signed message?

I see where the argument is coming from.
You're talking about signed message and the other party is considering the topic which is involving Bitcoin.
The context of the OP is more of comparing Social media to the Bitcoin than signing a message.
It is not made clear that you're talking about signed message and a signed message isn't related to the network at all since it's just a wallet feature and not part of the protocol.

Simply signing a message of course wont require bitcoins but it wont be relayed to the network.
It's just an unsent message, and if you use other method to "post" it, then it's not Bitcoin that functioned like a social media.

If you want to classify your message as a "social media" post/message, you have to consider using Bitcoin to transmit the message to other peer(s).
So you'll have to send it with a transaction that requires bitcoins as fee.

Or is the only requirement that both parties involved are using the same version of the same software?

A full Bitcoin node isn't limited to the "reference client" Bitcoin Core software, there are other node implementations out there that aren't too famous. (e.g. Bitcoin Knots)
It's the protocol or "Consensus Rules" that is required to be followed by a node for it to be part of the Bitcoin Network.

[Text]

You don’t necessarily need to have sats to send a Bitcoin-signed message. The process of signing a message is done locally on your device and doesn’t require a transaction on the Bitcoin network, so no fees are involved.

You need to have access to your wallet device or laptop and a password that decrypts the wallet and lets you use it. The process of signing a message is a way to prove that you own a particular Bitcoin address without needing to make a transaction, and it doesn’t require both parties to use the same version of the software.

[BlackBoss_]

If you send your Bitcoin signed message in text, to other users, off chain, you can do it without any satoshi because it does not require any on chain transaction to send that message.

Like people can use any Bitcoin wallet software, non custodial, use private key to sign a message, then can copy and paste that message, send it to other people. No satoshi needed.

If you want to send that message on chain by embark it in Coinbase message, you need satoshi for an on chain transaction.

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Coinbase
Coinbase message in a block 679187

TNYTimes 10/Mar/2021 House Gives Final Approval to Biden&amp;#039;s $1.9T Pandemic Relief Bill Mine �57`

Coinbase itself does not need inputs, but it comes with other transaction in a block. Nowadays, a block has big transaction fee, not free. You can not add a Coinbase message if you are not the miner that found a Bitcoin block.

[bitmover]

OP is confusing two different things

• Signed message using your address:
  
  Just got a random one from https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=996318.msg32898820#msg32898820
  
  This is free. This doesnt go into the blokchain.
  
  

Code:

-----BEGIN BITCOIN SIGNED MESSAGE-----
bct2
22.03.2018
-----BEGIN SIGNATURE-----
1PzcQXkoM9ZK6kRZrsbXYkuK63e4xVfwdo
H8jNtWAvh/pjwXF/KNK0xT4KVu9jIxprYFDoIs9vjUOgPYCkDEdysmJPYBDbqrJRLtICkMkz7aWdus2h/SnDCl0=
-----END BITCOIN SIGNED MESSAGE-----

• Send a message in a transaction using OP_RETURN

You need to send some sats in a transaction. To go into the blockchain you need to pay.

You need leave a message in OP_RETURN

For example:
https://mempool.space/tx/c282cff017132fc15d2625bcb2eb5ee24101de30956171109e6a7017ef477878


this is a tutorial how to do it:
https://armantheparman.com/op_return/

[/list]

[dkbit98]

Do you need sats to send a bitcoin signed message? Or is the only requirement that both parties involved are using the same version of the same software?

Signing bitcoin messages is free and you don't need to send any transaction for this, but compatibility can be different depending on wallets and addresses you use.
For example old style addresses are supported by many wallets, but that is not the case with newer address format starting with bc1 (trezor hw supports it).

There is a different way to sign a permanent message in bitcoin blockchain, in the same way like Satoshi did with genesis block and The Times newspaper, for that you need to pay transaction fees:

00000000   01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
00000010   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
00000020   00 00 00 00 3B A3 ED FD  7A 7B 12 B2 7A C7 2C 3E   ....;£íýz{.²zÇ,>
00000030   67 76 8F 61 7F C8 1B C3  88 8A 51 32 3A 9F B8 AA   gv.a.È.ÈŠQ2:Ÿ¸ª
00000040   4B 1E 5E 4A 29 AB 5F 49  FF FF 00 1D 1D AC 2B 7C   K.^J)«_Iÿÿ...¬+|
00000050   01 01 00 00 00 01 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
00000060   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
00000070   00 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF  FF FF 4D 04 FF FF 00 1D   ......ÿÿÿÿM.ÿÿ..
00000080   01 04 45 54 68 65 20 54  69 6D 65 73 20 30 33 2F   ..EThe Times 03/
00000090   4A 61 6E 2F 32 30 30 39  20 43 68 61 6E 63 65 6C   Jan/2009 Chancel
000000A0   6C 6F 72 20 6F 6E 20 62  72 69 6E 6B 20 6F 66 20   lor on brink of
000000B0   73 65 63 6F 6E 64 20 62  61 69 6C 6F 75 74 20 66   second bailout f
000000C0   6F 72 20 62 61 6E 6B 73  FF FF FF FF 01 00 F2 05   or banksÿÿÿÿ..ò.
000000D0   2A 01 00 00 00 43 41 04  67 8A FD B0 FE 55 48 27   *....CA.gŠý°þUH'
000000E0   19 67 F1 A6 71 30 B7 10  5C D6 A8 28 E0 39 09 A6   .gñ¦q0·.\Ö¨(à9.¦
000000F0   79 62 E0 EA 1F 61 DE B6  49 F6 BC 3F 4C EF 38 C4   ybàê.aÞ¶Iö¼?Lï8Ä
00000100   F3 55 04 E5 1E C1 12 DE  5C 38 4D F7 BA 0B 8D 57   óU.å.Á.Þ\8M÷º..W
00000110   8A 4C 70 2B 6B F1 1D 5F  AC 00 00 00 00            ŠLp+kñ._¬....