melvincarvalho on Nostr: Nostr is such a fun experiment. I’ve been here since the early days as the 2nd ...
Nostr is such a fun experiment. I’ve been here since the early days as the 2nd daily user, and I’ll probably stick around long after most have moved on. That said, the reality is that the majority of Nostr survives on the generosity of one very kind person funding it.
The relay network, unfortunately, has been shrinking. In truth, it’s been badly neglected. Many who tried to help improve it were met with dismissive responses like “we don’t need more relays,” which drove away skilled developers and contributors. Now, much of the network is gone, and they’re not coming back. It’s a double shame because we’ve lost not just the relays, but also talented people who could have added so much value to the ecosystem.
Honestly, a little kindness—just a “thanks for helping out”—could’ve made a difference. Even setting up a small fund to support relays could’ve changed the trajectory, but every effort in that direction got blocked. Instead, the relay network got thrown under the bus a few too many times, and now we’re left with a small, centralized pool of relays mostly run by those receiving large grants. While it has some censorship resistance, it’s not a lot.
Still, Nostr remains an exciting playground with huge potential for innovation—especially in how humans and machines can work together. It’s heavily dependent on the continued generosity of one individual unless something game-changing happens (like Elon adopting it). But hey, it’s a heck of a lot better than when there were just a couple of users, so let’s enjoy it while it lasts. :)
The relay network, unfortunately, has been shrinking. In truth, it’s been badly neglected. Many who tried to help improve it were met with dismissive responses like “we don’t need more relays,” which drove away skilled developers and contributors. Now, much of the network is gone, and they’re not coming back. It’s a double shame because we’ve lost not just the relays, but also talented people who could have added so much value to the ecosystem.
Honestly, a little kindness—just a “thanks for helping out”—could’ve made a difference. Even setting up a small fund to support relays could’ve changed the trajectory, but every effort in that direction got blocked. Instead, the relay network got thrown under the bus a few too many times, and now we’re left with a small, centralized pool of relays mostly run by those receiving large grants. While it has some censorship resistance, it’s not a lot.
Still, Nostr remains an exciting playground with huge potential for innovation—especially in how humans and machines can work together. It’s heavily dependent on the continued generosity of one individual unless something game-changing happens (like Elon adopting it). But hey, it’s a heck of a lot better than when there were just a couple of users, so let’s enjoy it while it lasts. :)