What Happens to Your Bitcoin Knowledge When You Lose Access to the Internet?

[348Judah]

There may not be an avenue to have a widespread information about bitcoin but nothing remain changed concerning bitcoin protocol or network if there is a global outage experience at any time, bitcoin network does not operate with all this central servers and that is why it cannot be regulated by any government or authority since it is well known to be a decentralized network and all these are perfectly programmed under blockchain.

[Achalugo BTC]

What will happen to everyone will happen to me, especially if the internet goes off all over the world, then I will no longer be able to access all my knowledge that is saved online. But what is saved offline, that is, written in a notebook, may be saved even if there is no internet connection. However, I will lose access to my Bitcoin online wallet forever because they cannot be accessed offline without being online. And if the internet connection is permanently disconnected or lost, I will also not be able to access my BitcoinTalk account.

Absolutely, many people would really panic because nowadays, most people saved everything they know online. That is to say, they back up all their knowledge on Google, Notepad, and other platforms. People find it hard to save things offline by writing them down, as they think it will be stressful. They may also worry that something like flood or other natural disaster could destroy their records. That is why many people prefer online storage, but the same risk exists online, especially if the Internet becomes unavailable forever. In such a situation, some people might even lose their lives, depending on how much they rely on it.

[Filicius]

I suppose your Bitcoin knowledge stays. I'm sure they aren't stored online.

If the internet is gone for a long time and not only in your locality, region, or country but the entire world, your Bitcoin wouldn't be at the top of your worries. The world would collapse to a great extent.

The entire civilization right now is largely built on the internet. Have you experienced when a certain bank goes offline for hours? Or when a city office loses internet for just a while? It's chaotic. Imagine if that happens to everything everywhere. Society would go crazy. And you'd forget about your Bitcoin.

That's right, and I think we've already discussed this once. If there is a global shutdown, then OP, you will be worried about other problems. But even though there have been cases in history where the government has intentionally turned off the Internet for the safety of their country, people have been patient, and then everything has been restored. There are a lot of wars going on in the world right now, and unfortunately, people have to live without the Internet from time to time, but we can at least try to change our lives by changing our place of residence, although of course this is a very difficult step.

Without having to go so far and without imagining a day of reckoning, I believe that it is necessary to take measures not only for occasional Internet blackouts, but also for electricity. A year ago the electricity went out for a whole day in Spain and there was practically panic, thank goodness that the electricity supply was restored to normal after a few hours.

both for those cases, in which transferring Bitcoins would be impossible, and for some other occasion in which the payment terminals have stopped working, the recommendation would be to have your money diversified and with cash alternatives always at hand. Even if it's residual, you never know when the system is going to stop working and you're going to have to make an urgent purchase.

[Fill Deep]

Great point. Lack of internet connection doesn't necessarily render Bitcoin nonfunctional... however, it can lead to a situation where you are unable to announce your transaction or check its status by yourself. Having an offline copy of your seed phrase is one of these important small things

[Joy- maker]

Did you ever think about what you'd do if the internet went down for a long time?

I asked chatgpt whether there's any possibility of Internet shutdown worldwide and the answer I got was yes, but it's unlikely to happen.  However, if there's Internet shutdown in some parts of the world, the Bitcoin network will continue running because nodes in the other part with Internet connection will remain connected and keep the network operational.

Now, my question is. If every form of Internet connectivity disappear globally and permanently,  will the Bitcoin network stop functioning normally or would it stop function altogether?

I have already done some research online, but I'm still not satisfied with the answers i have found.  I would like to hear from a member of the forum with deeper understanding of blockchain technology, who will explain what would happen to Bitcoin under such circumstances.

[m2017]

Did you ever think about what you'd do if the internet went down for a long time?

I think I’ll wait until the internet is back up. Or else I’ll move to a location where there is internet.

Users should know, however. What they can do without causing harm while they await a re establishment of connectivity.

And what can you do if you don’t have access to your wallet? All you can do is pray to Satoshi. It’s exactly the same situation as when there’s no electricity - the user ends up completely "disarmed". By the way, there is also a third scenario: the wallet owner happens to be in a location with no internet access or electricity (for example, while camping in the woods or in a country \ city with destroyed infrastructure, gripped by a military conflict).

People without internet access for several days may find it difficult to. Access reliable information or to manage their wallet and/or check transactions.

The only potential issue (similar to the situation with Coldcard) is that funds could be moved out of your wallet while you are offline; you wouldn’t even be aware of it, and you would be unable to transfer your assets to another wallet in an attempt to beat the thieves to it.

There are some ways to send Bitcoin offline, 

Have you ever tried performing a BTC-transaction offline yourself (before giving such advice)?

I’m actually curious: how many users on this forum have tested this method?

[oll]

When we talk about Bitcoin security, decentralization. And self custody. We don't often consider what we are doing to be ready for a long period of an Internet outage. Normally, Bitcoin transactions need to connect with the network to be broadcasted and confirmed. People without internet access for several days may find it difficult to. Access reliable information or to manage their wallet and/or check transactions. However if a user on the Bitcoin network goes offline. That doesn't mean the Bitcoin network ceases operations  other users are still connected and able to keep the network going. Users should know, however. What they can do without causing harm while they await a re establishment of connectivity. It is crucial to keep private keys safe. But it is also essential to know the methods of wallet recovery and checking transaction status. Did you ever think about what you'd do if the internet went down for a long time?

Compared to what I did with my Bitcoin as a blue and green investor, it would be better if my internet was disconnected and only reconnected now. Because hodl is the best strategy. The only thing that would be important is to buy more Bitcoin shares every month at DCA, but if you think about it, I started with 0.5 Bitcoin, and now that would be a decent amount of money... But you've answered your own question: even if someone's network is disconnected, Bitcoin won't collapse.

[qurbanshah02]

Although if there is a general interruption in my internet, it is not a big concern for me, if it is long and the reason is not known, then I may have to raise doubts about my Bitcoin. Because whatever work I have done, if it is interrupted, I do not get worried quickly, so I will not worry about Bitcoin until it is known that this is a conspiracy. Many people may be afraid in this regard, but I will not make Bitcoin negative in my knowledge, so we should try to keep our internet good enough so that many problems do not arise. At this time, it is not very easy for Bitcoin to be at risk due to the shutdown of the internet, so I will not be too afraid of it.

[osasshem]

When there is no internet access, I am not sure if it will be possible to access your wallet or view your transactions, as all these are tagged to an internet connectivity before such actions/activities can be carried out. On the part of your having kept all your keys and phrases safe, you will not lose your access to your coins/holdings when the network is restored. That being said, if you lose the access to your phrases/keys, that's when there will be panic cause someone else must have gotten it or lost and never to be found.

[Sunshine1525]

There are some ways to send Bitcoin offline, but you must do your search on which type to use based on the area you are, but I don't think you are all about making a transaction.
If your Bitcoin is offline in your wallet, except your wallet has been compromised like someone has accessed it somewhere else your Bitcoin is safe.

Yes, but the internet is still important for confirming it, offlline transactions can be created and signed through air-gapped devices that generates are file or QR code which would be confirmed when internet is restored or taken to another location where there's internet for confirmations, not every knows how to do it which is why reserve should be done for better understanding.

A long term holder shouldn't be bothered when there's no internet, except the persons keys is exposed to a third party, then there would be need for transfer to a safer wallet.

[Fiasem20]

If the internet would go down worldwide I believe it would affect other sectors that operate digitally and not necessarily only the blockchain,honestly that would cause a great loss in the world.Businesses are promoted online and digital marketing is also designed to run on the internet,so those sectors and lot more would be affected.You could imagine when a network in a region goes down and lots of people that are into digital skill complain,I could remember when a prominent network that was used by 95% of the population in my country went down for a day,it was so frustrating I was also affected and after that day I viewed crazy posts of people that couldn’t access the internet the following day.So in my own opinion the internet is vast and it isn’t only restricted to blockchain network alone and I don’t think you not accessing the internet for some months would affect the knowledge you’ve acquired about bitcoin.

[bhadz]

I suppose your Bitcoin knowledge stays. I'm sure they aren't stored online.

LOL, that's what I thought at first of what he's pointing out.  

But it is also essential to know the methods of wallet recovery and checking transaction status. Did you ever think about what you'd do if the internet went down for a long time?

I won't worry about this because I'll let the experts fix the internet, that's the ISPs' job and that's sort of too much futuristic thought, like we're in a doomsday. And if there's no internet at that time, all of the businesses globally will be hit by that and a crisis will be declared. In short, if we have no access to those things that might be a forceful stop and allowing us to take a rest. Looking away from charts, wallets and explorers.

[YOSHIE]

Did you ever think about what you'd do if the internet went down for a long time?

Yes, I thought about it but didn't know what to do with Bitcoin, as well as my real life, like money in the bank and so on, I just think when you lose internet access of course the first thing we all experience is being disconnected from device/network access, even if that happens it's certainly one that doesn't make me doubt Bitcoin assets aren't lost.

But when the internet is gone, maybe I will try to carry out Bitcoin transactions in alternative ways using satellites, radio networks, SMS, and so on, although I have never tried it but I will try it, I don't know if it works or not.

[General_Bitcoin]

But when the internet is gone, maybe I will try to carry out Bitcoin transactions in alternative ways using satellites, radio networks, SMS, and so on, although I have never tried it but I will try it, I don't know if it works or not.

You still need some sort of connection to broadcast a transaction, so this wont help in that regard. Unless you know of some way to send a transaction over Blockstream Satellite? As far as I know it's a one-way only service where they can send you blocks. Radio, like LoRa or ham, or a mesh network to someone with internet would probably be the best bet, if you can get that set up. SMS might work, but I m assuming that's only if cell phone service is still up.

If you're signing offline anyways, the other main task is going to be keeping your seed backups safe. I'd probably at least test the concept out with a small amount so you know what to expect when it comes time to actually use it.

[osasshem]

There are some ways to send Bitcoin offline, but you must do your search on which type to use based on the area you are, but I don't think you are all about making a transaction.
If your Bitcoin is offline in your wallet, except your wallet has been compromised like someone has accessed it somewhere else your Bitcoin is safe.

Yes, but the internet is still important for confirming it, offlline transactions can be created and signed through air-gapped devices that generates are file or QR code which would be confirmed when internet is restored or taken to another location where there's internet for confirmations, not every knows how to do it which is why reserve should be done for better understanding.

A long term holder shouldn't be bothered when there's no internet, except the persons keys is exposed to a third party, then there would be need for transfer to a safer wallet.

I made a quick check if there is a process to carry out such transaction, and I found the OpenDime tool, like a USB drive, which can be slot into a system, phone or tablet. Firstly, this tool can be used without the presence of an internet connection when setting it up and when confirming the amount available in the device. As this device is made for hand to hand transaction, it will be more valuable when there is a total network downtime.

[Hamza2424]

There are some ways to send Bitcoin offline, but you must do your search on which type to use based on the area you are, but I don't think you are all about making a transaction.

Yep bro, but that won't be an on-chain transfer. There are basically three ways. One is the normal method, which is an air-gapped wallet. We know how it works, but the payment with it can only be signed offline. It can't be processed unless there is internet, so we can sign the transaction, but we have to wait for the internet to come back online.

We can hand over BTC to someone in a deal if that counts as a transfer. Like, we can prefund an Opendime, which is a BTC bearer device, so you can fund it and the receiver can verify the device and redeem the coins later. There was also a concept of a Bluetooth network based on mesh topology. I don't remember the exact name, but some famous CEO came up with it.

So basically, without the internet, we can't really make on-chain transfers. We won't be able to do anything, and neither will the miners.

That's how authorities are going to control BTC if they ever have to, but there will be riots, I'm sure

[alastantiger]

That doesn't mean the Bitcoin network ceases operations  other users are still connected and able to keep the network going. Users should know, however. What they can do without causing harm while they await a re establishment of connectivity. It is crucial to keep private keys safe. But it is also essential to know the methods of wallet recovery and checking transaction status. Did you ever think about what you'd do if the internet went down for a long time?

I think we just have to know that we need the internet 'to send Bitcoin hence we should not bother when there is no internet around. Some discovery have been made to send Bitcoin through radio wave but that is not popular yet and only the internet can be used for now commercially. If the interbet is down it affects everything and not only Bitcoin because the world economy is depending on the interest to operates.

We do not have to bother when the internet is being down because the government will work to bring it back up hence it is not that important to try researching what will happen when the interest is down as you can just do nothing. Our attention should be focused on understanding how to keep our wallets safe from hackers and scammers because they can use the internet to do many damage to us if we are not careful.

[Juse14]

There are some ways to send Bitcoin offline, but you must do your search on which type to use based on the area you are, but I don't think you are all about making a transaction.
If your Bitcoin is offline in your wallet, except your wallet has been compromised like someone has accessed it somewhere else your Bitcoin is safe.

There is a Bitchat application from Jack Dorsey that can send bitcoin without the internet, it's just that after seeing his video from his phone to another phone it looks WIFI connected, is this some kind of wireless?

There is also sending bitcoin with transactions broadcast using radio, is this true?

Maybe I thought in an emergency this could be used, it's just that when it becomes a daily transaction this will not be possible.

The source is found only in X.
https://x.com/pete_rizzo_/status/2113451089034969303
https://x.com/BitcoinArchive/status/2040414724983017873

[Cookdata]

Why do I think your subject is not what you intended to write or is this another English barrier topic. Alright, let's come down to your posts. Internet doesn't belong to anyone, it's impossible to lose access to the internet worldwide. If your country location can't access Bitcoin, there are ways you can sign Bitcoin offline and broadcast it. There are tested wave method and through satellite but I haven't tested it as I don't see the reason to do so, have never go a day without the internet.

If one day something comes up and internet seeize in my country due to war or any unforeseen circumstances, my worry will not be how to connect Bitcoin to a server because I don't think I will need Bitcoin. The purpose of Bitcoin is to hold and it's not to connect it to the internet. Some Iran people couldn't access the internet for about 45 days, they couldn't come online and didn't bother. By God grace, they cane back here and start posting again. Your worry for internet doesn't have to be Bitcoin unless you have plans to spend it.