Eric F.J. and Sync are joined by guest Max Hillebrand to discuss the current state of decentralized marketplaces, the shipping problem, privacy technology, and the evolving ecosystem of Nostr-based e-commerce.
https://github.com/marmot-protocol
Project Updates:
Shopstr Updates:
Conduit Updates:
Aug 17–22, 2026 🏝️ Próspera, Roatán, Honduras
Napplets:
https://kehto.github.io/web/playground/
The Couriers Knew:
https://primal.net/maxhillebrand/the-couriers-knew
Key Topics:
- Shopster's implementation of Cashu Escrow for enhanced marketplace trust and scriptable payments.
- Conduit's new features, including guest checkout and ephemeral keys for non-Nostr users.
- The evolution of marketplace specifications, including NIP-99 and the modular approach of the Open Markets Foundation.
- Privacy-focused communication protocols like Marmot and Cordon for secure, group-encrypted interactions.
- The "proxy merchant" model as a bridge between fiat economies and private Bitcoin/Nostr economies.
Summary:
The episode opens with a discussion on the technical progress within the Nostr ecosystem, specifically regarding marketplace interoperability. The hosts highlight Shopster’s recent integration of Cashu escrow, which provides a high-integrity, scriptable way to handle arbitration and payments. This is contrasted with the traditional Lightning Network, as Cashu allows for complex multi-sig and hash-lock functionality that is essential for trustless commerce. The hosts also share updates from their own project, Conduit, which has introduced guest checkout features to lower the barrier for non-Nostr users to engage with decentralized storefronts.
A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the importance of specification design. Max, a long-time advocate for cypherpunk principles and Austrian economics, explains why modularizing specs—like those found in the Open Markets Foundation or the Blossom protocol—is a better approach than maintaining a monolithic, chaotic NIPs repository. By creating "buds" or modular branches of specifications, developers can build domain-specific tools for use cases like real estate, ride-sharing, or logistics without overwhelming new contributors. This effort aims to shape the "digital garden" of Nostr into a more cooperative, standardized environment.
The conversation then shifts toward privacy and adversarial resistance. Max shares his work on the Marmot protocol, a group-encryption and messaging system designed for high security. Unlike some existing protocols, Marmot aims for decentralized consensus, whereas alternatives like Cordon offer a more centralized, stable alternative. The group discusses the inherent challenges of "last mile" logistics and the necessity of privacy in handling shipping addresses. They emphasize that while fully anonymous logistics are difficult to achieve due to physical reality, the goal is to increase the cost of surveillance and theft for adversaries.
A key highlight is the proposal of the "proxy merchant" model. Max argues that because transitioning from a fiat-based economy to a sovereign Bitcoin standard is difficult, entrepreneurs should act as bridges. These proxy merchants can accept Bitcoin from users, purchase goods via fiat channels (like Amazon), and then deliver those goods to the user. This service solves immediate needs for privacy and Bitcoin-standard living, while also creating a profitable niche for entrepreneurs to stack sats. The hosts agree that this provides a practical, immediate way for Bitcoiners to "opt-out" of surveillance-heavy systems.
https://dn721803.ca.archive.org/0/items/a-lodging-of-wayfaring-men-paul-a.-rosenberg/A Lodging of Wayfaring Men - Paul A. Rosenberg.pdf
Finally, the discussion touches on the importance of personal responsibility and the role of "Freedom Tech" in reducing the impact of insidious theft, such as inflation and data harvesting. Max recommends Paul Rosenberg’s book, A Lodging of Wayfaring Men, as an essential read for anyone interested in the roots of decentralized marketplaces. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to get involved, contribute to the spec, and start experimenting with these tools today, emphasizing that the infrastructure for a parallel, private economy is already here and waiting for builders to step in.