If we want #Nostr to be big and be competitive, we need all relays to be transparent because as things stand, the relays do collect IP Addresses but never tell us why or how long they retain that data. As of right now, all you need to do is attack the relays, find everyone’s IP Addresses and then make them unavailable via any methods… As of right now, we have no metadata protection, no protection against IP Logging, no protection against AI spam reply bots…

What the Monero freaks understand is that the Porsche has a license plate that every ALPR reads, has a registration and a host of other things. The Bicycle or Tricycle does not have a license plate or registration. Neither does it have a VIN… Just saying… People affected by Domestic Abuse or running away from a Toxic BF/GF/Spouse or people wanting to escape places like Iran, North Korea etc. need Monero. This is especially important when every country wants to secretly have the same surveillance as the authoritarian Communist China

But I cannot get rid of the SIM because banks use phone numbers. I still need SOME fiat since my utility bills do not accept Bitcoin yet…

If you are taking special measures to make Bitcoin more private then take the same measures with Monero. Compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges (by comparing hardened Bitcoin Opsec with regular Monero Opsec - compare the best opsec for both and you see Monero is much more private and anonymous) No, the term “KYC exhanges” does not refer to using any random exchanges, there are some exchanges that require people to suit government IDs to connect their bank accounts and actually buy Bitcoin or any crypto. For example in countries like India all exchanges require ID-based KYC. Same for other countries that have heavy surveillance.

Bitcoin provides no privacy and your wallet can be de-anonymised by anyone on the network who has a KYC wallet in the chain somewhere. If you know about the 6-hop theory, then there is only about 6 people chain that connects any two people (similarly any 2 wallets) in the world. Feds are using it openly. Silent Payments and other such privacy measures are like duct tape slapped on to seal a canyon wide opening.

Am I out of the loop? What happened?

If you think Bitcoin is better than Monero on anything other than price then you are stupid. Bitcoin is slowly becoming a fedcoin controlled by Feds.