Money without Masters

Escape financial surveillance and ascend into digital freedom through new monetary technologies.

As a digital citizen, you're likely accustomed to using some form of electronic payment. Digital methods undoubtedly offer more freedom of action, comfort, flexibility, and speed compared to good old cash.

Yet, these benefits come with detrimental side effects for our psycho-cybernetic health, which should not be underestimated. Surveillance, profiling, financial censorship, instant seizures, geopolitical sanctions... money has become a tool of global control, and simple payment is now a political act. Tell me if you pay by card or cash, and I'll tell you who you are. Or something like that.

Just as the use of computers, smartphones, and the Internet should be conscious, the same applies to monetary technologies. Choosing a currency or a means of payment is choosing a master. Or deciding not to have one.

And if until recently the choice was extremely limited, or rather virtually nonexistent, today it's no longer the case. With just a few clicks, we can all use monetary technologies that not only open new possibilities but also allow us to limit some of those detrimental effects mentioned earlier.

I'm talking, as you may have guessed, about cryptocurrencies. There are many, mostly forks of Bitcoin, but some are of particular interest due to their ability to support our effort toward digital sovereignty, unlike any other type of currency or "legacy" payment instrument—not even cash.

In this article, I will briefly explain the harmful effects of traditional monetary technologies, then we'll look at possible paths to start using cryptocurrencies consciously.

This article is dedicated to those new to the world of cryptocurrencies. It's not a guide or a technical manual. I will talk about tools and paths, but I won't teach you how to use a wallet or explain the technicalities of how crypto works. Instead, I hope to encourage and intrigue you to seek answers on your own, to realize your destiny as a digital Übermensch who doesn't delegate their freedom to others: without masters and without borders.

Why Crypto and Not Fiat

FIAT currency, that is, legal tender in its paper version that has accompanied us so far, certainly has its merits: easy to carry, fungible, anonymous, untraceable.

However, governments worldwide are now pushing towards the digitization of the banking-financial system to keep up with the times and control monetary flows in a geopolitical context increasingly moving towards ruthless competition between blocs and currencies: yuan vs. dollar, dollar vs. euro, and so on.

In this war, everyone has chosen and will choose their financial weapons, and we citizens will inevitably be involved.

On one side, China has long developed and launched its digital yuan—albeit with limited success—while the United States, under Trump, chose to abandon the digital dollar project to strengthen the correlation between the dollar and stablecoins—cryptocurrencies that tie their value to the dollar.

In the middle is the European Union, or rather the European Central Bank, which has long been carrying out a political campaign for the development and adoption of the digital euro. Cash can guarantee the confidentiality of our transactions and thus free us from third-party and algorithmic interference. However, cash in Europe is a dying breed, and the digital euro will be its undertaker.

The ECB's great fear is irrelevance and the loss of deposits and control over monetary flows. In addition to digital payment instruments like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, which already dominate the European scene, now even stablecoins like Tether (USDT), tied to the dollar, are very frightening: fast, borderless, bureaucracy-free, digitally native.

The digital euro will be the ECB's response, but it will be the exact opposite of cryptocurrencies: controllable and unilaterally programmable, georeferenced, traceable, censorable, seizable.

Among these, the programmability of the digital euro is perhaps the most frightening. Although it has been excluded for now, the possibility remains. Programmability means the ability to decide how users can use their money. For example, the International Monetary Fund already stated in less suspicious times that Central Bank Digital Currencies like the digital euro could be used to incentivize politically correct behaviors by citizens—for example, blocking transactions that are too "polluting."

In general, the digital euro—like any other CBDC—is well-suited to become a tool of mass surveillance and mass control. I have already talked about this repeatedly on these pages, and in a few months, it will be time to talk about it again.

Even payment instruments like PayPal are certainly not exempt from problems. Those who use PayPal to manage their money should know that at any time and without warning, they can lose all access. For example, PayPal reserves the right to block accounts in case of legal violations or transactions involving the purchase of drugs, cigarettes, knives, ammunition, obscene objects (whatever that means), or promoting "hate, violence, discrimination, or intolerance," or even transactions considered fraudulent.

The terms and conditions are so broad that anything can fall into these categories one way or another. We all remember the accounts blocked during COVID for people who made small donations to anti-lockdown movements, right?

Why voluntarily give up ownership of our economic resources to third parties who do not care about our well-being? There's no reason, except intellectual laziness. That's how invisible prisons are designed. The global technocratic dystopia is real, and Sauron's digital Eye relentlessly watches the horizon. The Orcs are coming.

Warning: even crypto, in some contexts, has been corrupted by the global Sauron. The sector has now been cannibalized by traditional finance and actors like PayPal who have no interest other than making a profit and pleasing the legislator.

I'm referring to all those platforms called "exchanges" that now function exactly like banks: user registration, document identification—often biometric—transaction surveillance, blocking of suspicious transactions and accounts, and so on. The new bankers are Binance, Coinbase, and many others. And just to give an example: Coinbase in 2022 blocked the accounts of Russian citizens... just for being Russian.

But it's still possible to use cryptocurrencies as Christ commands—yes, Christ, because digital sovereignty is also a Christian matter, and if you don't know what I'm talking about, you should read here.

Using crypto instead of fiat today means affirming one's will for independence from a corrupt, hyper-surveilled global financial and monetary system on the brink of collapse due to inflation, bureaucracy, and increasingly stringent limits. I also discussed the more "philosophical" meaning of this choice in the Alata Magazine:

Crypto Freedom

The Wallet: The Keys to the Kingdom

First of all, it's essential to have a wallet.

The wallet must be "non-custodial," meaning under our total control, without any intermediary—because the Digital Übermensch accepts no masters.

There are many wallets. This is not a technical guide, so it's up to the reader, overcoming their mental laziness, to investigate and delve into the technicalities—not too complex—related to their use.

Some are designed for desktop use (Windows or Linux), while others are native for mobile (iOS or Android). Some of these will be specific to a single cryptocurrency; others can manage multiple.

Among the latter, regarding the mobile environment, I like Cake Wallet and Stack Wallet—both useful for managing multiple types of cryptocurrencies.

To use a wallet, no registration or account is needed. During the setup phase, the software will display a seed phrase composed of a certain number of words. These words are the key to find, manage, and transfer cryptocurrencies on the respective blockchain (the database where transactions are recorded).

Anyone who possesses them can access the funds, and these keys are the only way to restore a wallet. Therefore, it's essential to store them adequately and securely from unauthorized access. There are many ways to store seed words: on paper, on metal support, on a digital file, or even memorized, for the savant friends reading Cyber Hermetica.

Again, I won't describe all the pros and cons of the various solutions, but I'll just say never to store them in plain text—whether on paper or digitally. And above all: never store them in plain text in the Cloud. Encryption is your best friend.

Again, it's up to the reader to overcome intellectual laziness and independently explore the best way to store seed words based on their needs.

Once the wallet is created, and the seed words are securely stored, it will be possible to receive and send cryptocurrencies. Before that, however, you'll need to acquire some—or rather: you'll need to convert your FIAT currency (euro, dollars, yuan) into some cryptocurrency.

Which Cryptocurrencies

Not all cryptocurrencies are equal.

In the beginning, there was Bitcoin; then the code was taken, transformed, and adapted, creating numerous other cryptocurrencies. Then came Ethereum, and infinite "tokens" representing more or less anything were born.

For our interests—digital sovereignty, privacy, self-determination, and control over one's finances—I will refer only to certain cryptocurrencies and not to the infinite rainbow of digital garbage born solely for speculation: Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), Monero (XMR).

Why these three? Because, in my opinion, they are the only ones that, in some way, best represent the concept of "digital currency" and collectively satisfy different needs as a kind of functional triad.

Bitcoin (BTC) is the most accepted and liquid cryptocurrency in the world. Although it is completely transparent and traceable, it is the most widespread tool for converting FIAT into crypto. It's the main gateway into this world: every P2P platform, exchange, and ATM supports Bitcoin. Soon, probably even traditional banks will. Unfortunately, transaction fees are often high, and transfers can also be very slow, making it impractical for sending or receiving small amounts. However, it's unbeatable for transferring and storing large sums or even entire multimillion-dollar fortunes.

Litecoin (LTC), the first successful fork of Bitcoin (2011), today offers a valid alternative for the initial conversion between FIAT and crypto. It has very low transaction fees and is faster than Bitcoin. Great for serving as a bridge to other cryptocurrencies or transferring small amounts. Additionally, since 2022, it has integrated MWEB, a feature that enables confidential transactions, thus finding a compromise between usability and privacy.

Monero (XMR), born in 2014 as an independent project from Bitcoin, is the cryptocurrency that has made privacy and anonymity its entire reason for existence. Every transaction is obfuscated by design: sender, recipient, and amount are not publicly visible. Monero is the currency for those who always put privacy first. However, today it is difficult to obtain directly, having been declared essentially illegal in many jurisdictions—including the European Union—precisely because of its characteristics. Not as fast and convenient as Litecoin, but still acceptable.

These three cryptos together offer a modular pathway: BTC for liquidity and widespread acceptance, LTC for a balance of speed, convenience, and privacy, XMR for full anonymity. These are technological choices not dictated by speculation but by the necessity of regaining control over one’s finances in a world that is increasingly tracked and surveilled.

Let's now see how to obtain and use these cryptocurrencies.

P2P Methods (Maximum Privacy)

One of the most private ways to convert fiat into crypto is to use P2P (peer-to-peer) exchanges, which are decentralized platforms where you buy directly from other users, without intermediaries and without providing documents or information. This is the option to maximize privacy (plausible deniability) and anonymity in the acquisition phase of cryptocurrencies.

Both for Bitcoin and Monero, there are P2P platforms where you can make small purchases from other users.

For Bitcoin:

Bisq: One of the most famous P2P platforms to buy Bitcoin privately. It works via a desktop application; each Bisq node functions as a hidden Tor service. No identity verification is required: the user remains pseudonymous, and all data are saved locally. Bisq implements a multisignature escrow mechanism and a decentralized arbitration system with security deposits to prevent misconduct.

Hodl Hodl: A non-custodial P2P marketplace. It works via the web: you register with an email (even an anonymous one), search for an offer, and use a multisignature escrow similar to Bisq to trade BTC for fiat.

Peach Bitcoin: A mobile app that, like Bisq or Hodl Hodl, allows you to buy and sell Bitcoin in Europe without registration or identification. The app acts as an intermediary to connect sellers and buyers, with offer data saved locally and end-to-end encrypted communication.

Robosats: A P2P marketplace for Bitcoin via the Lightning Network, accessible via Tor (.onion interface), allows you to buy small amounts of BTC quickly and anonymously. No registration, not even an email: a disposable avatar is generated for each session, and buyers and sellers are connected via a Lightning escrow.

For Monero:

Haveno: A P2P platform based on Monero and Tor. It's essentially a "clone" of Bisq adapted to Monero: there is no central server, all nodes communicate via Tor, and buy/sell offers are created by the users themselves. On Haveno, you can buy Monero directly with fiat (EUR, USD, etc.), choosing various payment methods agreed upon between users.

Another way to acquire cryptocurrencies with maximum privacy and without intermediaries is... to work and get paid in cryptocurrencies. Unbelievable, right? Yet more and more people are adding crypto addresses to their payment preferences. You can do it too!

And you can even do it on Substack.

Why not? If you're a writer on Substack, the traditional payment method involves no less than two intermediaries, each taking their cut. On a $5 subscription, you may receive just about $3. These $3 are then transferred to your bank account or worse, to PayPal or similar services, risking being blocked, taxed, or seized for any reason—maybe just because you write politically incorrect opinions on Substack.

To avoid all this, you can allow your readers to subscribe using cryptocurrencies: create a wallet, ask the reader to get in touch, share the address to send the funds to, and then manually activate their subscription. It's really simpler than it seems.

Want to experience the thrill of subscribing to Cyber Hermetica with your favorite crypto? Message me privately, here or on Telegram (@mrk4m1), and let’s make it happen!

Intermediaries, but Without KYC (Medium Privacy)

Some people may prefer simpler and more straightforward methods, even if this involves using intermediaries.

In this case, we will not use centralized exchanges like Coinbase or Binance—which require documentary and biometric identification of users (procedures known as KYC—Know Your Customer) and which track every transaction. Instead, we will turn to companies that offer the direct sale of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies without KYC.

In this case, all we need to do is purchase with a credit card, bank transfer, or another payment method, receiving the cryptocurrencies in the wallet provided directly by the service or in another wallet we own.

There are many such services, and some do not even require user registration. Here are a few:

StealthEX: A “instant” non-custodial exchange, popular for crypto-to-crypto swaps, which also offers the option to buy directly with a card up to $700 per transaction. StealthEX fragments transactions to remain below reporting thresholds in most jurisdictions. It’s one of the few services that still allows the direct purchase of Monero (XMR).

Cake Wallet: A multi-crypto mobile wallet that allows purchasing crypto directly within the app. Besides BTC, LTC, and other cryptos, for European users, Cake offers the option to buy Monero (XMR) via SEPA transfer through a partner called DFX. It's also interesting for using Litecoin’s privacy features (MWEB) from within the wallet for more private transactions.

Stack Wallet: Another multi-crypto mobile wallet that allows purchasing crypto directly within the app. Stack Wallet doesn’t allow direct purchases of Monero (XMR), but it supports other cryptocurrencies (BTC, LTC, DOGE, BCH, ETH) that can then be swapped for Monero. It also includes Tor integration, although not usable during the direct purchase process.

BitcoinVoucherBot: A semi-automated service available via Telegram, through which you can buy Bitcoin via bank transfer. The service requires no personal data, and it’s enough to make a transfer to the recipient bank to receive the corresponding Bitcoin. Unlike other services, this is not a wallet, so you’ll need to have one to receive the funds.

Swap

Another way to obtain crypto privately is by using an intermediary cryptocurrency. In practice: first acquire another easy-to-get crypto and then swap it. This strategy is especially useful for Monero, given the increasing difficulty in obtaining it due to legislative bans.

Ideally, the intermediary cryptocurrency should be easy to buy, have low fees, and fast confirmation times. The best candidate in my opinion is Litecoin (LTC): minimal fees, widely supported, and more privacy-friendly than others thanks to the MWEB feature, easily enabled in wallets like Cake. A stablecoin (USDT, USDC) could also work, if you find a way to buy it without KYC.

Once you have the intermediary crypto, executing the swap is fairly simple. This is where services that convert from one crypto to another without requesting documents come into play, as there are no FIAT transactions involved.

Among the most reliable are StealthEX again, but also Changelly, ChangeNOW, SimpleSwap, Exolix, SideShift, MorphToken, FixedFloat, Trocador…

You can usually access these services directly through wallets like Cake or Stack, as mentioned earlier. In that case, the process is semi-automated, and the user only needs to choose the provider and deposit address, which can even be within the same wallet. Be aware: some swap services might perform anti-money-laundering checks on funds previously passed through transaction obfuscation services like CoinJoin, potentially blocking them. CoinJoin is not illegal, but it is poorly tolerated by regulators who want us always transparent. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you probably won’t run into problems.

An alternative to swaps are small specialized exchanges that do not require identification (KYC) as long as you only deposit and withdraw cryptocurrencies.

The best example is TradeOgre. No verification is required, and a simple email registration is enough to create an account. The idea is to deposit any crypto you hold (as long as it's supported) and then trade them via buy/sell operations. This is true “trading,” but not done for speculation—only to exchange one cryptocurrency for another.

Using an exchange this way comes with some risks: by depositing your crypto on the platform, you temporarily give up ownership (the wallet is under platform control). In general, it’s never a good idea to leave funds on these platforms, especially small ones like TradeOgre—which could fall victim to hacks, bugs, or other unpleasant events. That said, TradeOgre is recognized and appreciated by the community and considered trustworthy (until proven otherwise).

Some Security Tips

I’ll leave the reader, now intrigued by the crypto world, with a few final pieces of cyber hygiene advice. On these pages, particularly in the Digital Grimoire section, there are many lessons to draw from, and I invite you to explore those topics. In any case, here are a few tips:

• Don’t do anything illegal with crypto. You are not anonymous, and you never will be (not even with Monero), and somewhere along the line you will make a mistake.

• Always maintain custody of your crypto, using a non-custodial wallet. If you must use exchanges or other custodial services like TradeOgre, leave the funds there only for the time strictly necessary.

• Periodically check your backups. Yes, backups—plural. If you lose the 12 magic words, you lose all your money. If your 12 magic words are stolen, you lose all your money.

• It’s good practice to make small test transactions before using new services like swaps.

• If buying crypto directly with fiat (e.g., credit card), avoid large amounts. Better to use smaller sums at separate times. Even better if you use different services.

• Use tools like Tor (if integrated into the wallet) or a VPN when transacting. You’re probably not a high-priority surveillance target, but making life harder for those who want to spy on us is always wise. This goes beyond crypto.

• Never reuse the same address to receive funds. Most wallets now allow you to generate different addresses for each transaction. When possible, use the privacy features of crypto. If using Litecoin, make sure to activate the MWEB function. For Monero, there’s not much to do—privacy is already integrated, but there are some best practices to enhance it. For Bitcoin... it’s a complex topic.

• Never talk about your crypto in public. Not even in private. Just like you wouldn’t talk about your bank account details, you especially shouldn’t with crypto. Your life—or that of your loved ones—could be at risk. I’m serious.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, these new monetary technologies allow us to break the chains of the fiat financial system and choose the approach that best fits our profile.

The ultra-paranoid individual will opt for P2P solutions like Bisq/Haveno + atomic swaps to be completely outside the system and nearly untraceable. The intermediate user may choose a mix of P2P and direct purchase without KYC to enjoy the benefits of crypto without overcomplicating things.

The important thing is to understand that avoiding KYC and exiting—partially or totally—the traditional monetary system is a choice of self-determination; a strong political act that comes with the responsibility of being the sole guardian of your financial destiny, with no delegation to third parties.

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