What is Nostr and Why is it Dope?

Nostr is a decentralized protocol that lets you post content, message, and transact without any company or government able to censor or deplatform you. You control your identity with cryptographic keys and publish "notes" to independent relays that anyone can run. It integrates Bitcoin's Lightning Network for instant micropayments ("zaps"), creating a value-for-value economy where good content gets rewarded directly. It's the blueprint for censorship-resistant social media—no CEO to cancel, no servers to shut down, just an unstoppable network you actually own.