I haven't used wallet in a good couple years I think, but I see it's finally at a point I can actually recommend it to pretty much anyone as a starting point. Postives: It's self-custodial, has a sleek UI, has an emergency sweep option to close channels and revert to on-chain if need be, and #Lightning fees are decently low. Could use some options such as - Contacts/Nostr integration - Profile seems to have no function other than the app automatically knowing when someone on Breez sent you money, i.e., can't send to profile. - For some reason I MUST have a fiat currency enabled. The one negative: Only negative so far is the constant need of apps nowadays in being AIO, in fact, I think that's a major detraction from what the app fundamentally IS and what it fundamentally DOES, as in, what APPLICATION it serves. I think this negative really shows considering last I tired it it already had Podcasts and Stores I believe, and so far it's the same selection. Hasn't visibly grown in an any way.

Oops... You're welcome. If you know, you know.

Thanks, it's good they took the time for this write-up, but hard-disagree on the premise. A phone-number is increasingly linked to PII, and thus, so too become your Bitcoin purchases. I and a lot of people I know do NOT have phonebook contacts as the main contacts page - Instead, linking this to Nostr, or potentially other social media platforms would've been a better way as it gave users a chance to not inherently attach PII. Regardless of Vexl's future plans with ID, this is a risk that may come back to not only bite them, but especially their own users.

The surface web is officially diving deep into a dark age of censorship. Prepare accordingly. Get a #VPN / #SOCKS tunnel while you can. All that's happening in the UK, EU? It's coming for you, wherever you are. If you want to retain your privacy, switch to distributed networks. Decentralization is now a must, much like the early years of the internet boom. #Nostr and running a #Matrix homeserver for your community are good options (at least while Nostr catches up on feature-parity and software-maturity).

Vexl? The app that requires a phone number? Yea, that'll go well.

Mayba Zapddit (web) and/or Voyage (Android).

Still find it hypocritical that so many in the privacy world recommend it when it has a non-reproducible, non fully open source backend.

Just a thought... The outerworld looks at current-politics and institutionalization for Bitcoin's relevancy, as if it really mattered. The real value isn't generated by politicians and institutions - Those are just figureheads you may look to when you're weak-willed, and have a desperate need for leadership and idolization, Instead, the real value is in the grass-roots ecosystem. - An ongoing feud between 2 of the most popular #Bitcoin software implementations, and based on that the direction Bitcoin should head in - You may have your own opinion on this, that's fine, but the fact it's happening, is necessary for progress. I remember this very feeling from back in 2016 with the blocksize wars. - The proliferation of the #Lightning Network as it leaves the Experimental label (whoo, been a while!!) behind and becomes not only production, but mission-critical ready. - The non-stop adoption of Bitcoin as a #MoE, trickle or flood, as it shows itself as an alternative to so many that had a real need for it, from merchants to those deemed 'unbankable'. - The development of #Cashu as a custodial layer for sats, with a genuine use-case within communities. Nothing stops this train. It's going to keep moving and improving and refining and evolving, whether you like it or not. It's past the point of no return. I'd be remiss not to mention #Nostr also, providing a fairly safe space for so much development and adoption in a form that calls back to the original cypherpunk movement - This is as genuine as it gets. Meanwhile, the outerworld has no real knowledge of any of this yet - When it hits them, it's going to hit them so HARD. Even the Bitcoin twitters/Xs and Reddits and whatnot, they're completely oblivious to Bitcoin's real development. The ecosystem is flourishing, without anyone giving it permission to do so. That's powerful.

Stopped using YT and Spotify years ago. Only use Bandcamp (and looking into wavlake). Can actually support artists by buying their music.

Too many Bitcoiners also thinking KYC Bitcoin is safe. They're one and the same.