These days, I tend to only find time to engage with Nostr when on holiday. That’s sort of just life, nowadays, but also a symptom of the fact that there are zero products to create daily engagement. For example:
1. Nothing new in social. Nostr does *not* have the social graph to compete, so it has to be innovation or games that drive engagement. There’s no innovation, and there are no games of note.
2. Productivity tools. This could be significant, but no one in Nostr seems to give a shit, because it’s just a big Bitcoin echo chamber.
3. Creator economy. Also could be good, but every project I see goes down some weird psychodrama path where there’s too much obsession with key ownership, anonymity or some other area that isn’t the problem a creator economy platform is meant to solve.
The protocol is not the app. Are you working on the protocol, or are you creating an app?
So many parallels with the Bitcoin ecosystem (unsurprisingly) as well.
Ben Cousens
ben@bencousens.com
npub14yzx...tuw5
be the cure • https://antidotebtc.com/join
Nostr clients still suck. Primal got worse, not better.
Everything a poor twitter clone isn’t the way forward.
Exciting projects: White Noise (stalled? No one cares?), NostrVPN, diVine (bad name, bad launch), zapstream, GitHub replacements… Nostr as “more-than-socials” basically.
The medium/substack clones aren’t a big enough market.
I’m looking for founders in Bitcoin looking at the creator economy, agentic payments and B2B fintech.
If this resonates, hit me up. DM, X, Telegram, wherever.
🤘April 30, Old Blue Last, Fountain Live. DO NOT MISS IT! Open Bar and great music.
https://fountain.fm/episode/C2rNmBA6faK2wzlXU6SR
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@npub16c0n...6nvr your spark wallet upgrade totally f’d the UX for the dozens of us that use NWC. Borked.
Literally no one is discussing the fact that Soulwax came storming back to form and fucking crushed a tour.
WHEN DID WE FAIL OURSELVES

Spotify
Gimme A Reason
Soulwax · Gimme A Reason / Meanwhile On The Continent · Song · 2025
Mood.


@RUNSTR it would be extremely helpful if the app could automatically pull in runs/exercise from Apple Health, Garmin, and other fitness trackers.
The Steam Deck is such a great device. I play so much more. Completed Dishonored (2012) last night—what a great game.
OK @RUNSTR let’s go.
Whatever device is to follow the smartphone cannot come soon enough.
Given how cultural trends cycle (mine loved everything 80s, Gen Z loves everything 90s), I’d guess we’re going to see the resurgence of indie rock and emo in about 5-7 years.