Billboard Becomes a Protocol, Not Just a Product
season S4 · episode 16 · block #890098
synopsis
Deep in week five of Sovereign Engineering, Ian and Mandana discuss major technical innovations: DVMCP (decentralized compute over Nostr), Blossom adoption by Nostr Build, Zap Store as decentralized app distribution, and Cashu/eCash as a credit layer on Bitcoin. Ian announces a fundamental design shift — Billboard is becoming a decentralized content promotion protocol, not just a NextBlock product. The episode also covers currency toggle UX challenges and the "first mover" dynamics of decentralized tools.
quotes
"Cashu is like a credit layer on top of Bitcoin."
"Islands are just boats that don't move."
"Billboard is what we are calling this decentralized content promotion system that will exist on Nostr."
"If Nostr were a corporation, nobody would have authorized the making of Zap Store."
"You can't just spin up a TikTok version of a Nostr client... there's so many things that go on the back end."
"I'm not gonna haggle with you. I can't. It's a machine."
topics
DVMCP (Data Vending Machine + Model Context Protocol) — decentralized compute for NostrBlossom: decentralized file hosting, now adopted by Nostr BuildZap Store: decentralized app distribution using social graph for trustCashu/eCash: "a credit layer on top of Bitcoin"Billboard evolving from NextBlock product to open protocolCurrency toggle UX in the Billboard appNostr Build as a service provider and liability absorberBeing a "micro company" and choosing what to build vs. outsourceThe pattern of decentralized innovation forcing centralized services to adapt