Eric and Sync are joined by Gzuuus, an early Nostr builder whose work connects several important threads in open markets… from Plebeian Market and the Gamma Markets specification to ContextVM and now CORDN. We begin with community updates, recent security incidents in the Bitcoin ecosystem, and a larger question: Is Nostr primarily a social network, or is its real potential as an open foundation for useful applications? From there, Gzuuus takes us through his journey building on Nostr and the lessons connecting each project. Topics include: Building freedom technology correctly from the beginning Nostr identity, interoperability, and what makes something a “Nostr app” The origins of Plebeian Market and Gamma Markets Collaboration between Plebeian Market, Shopstr, Conduit, and other marketplace builders Why Gzuuus moved from DVMs to ContextVM Using Nostr as transport for MCP clients and services Marmot, White Noise, MLS, and the difficulty of ordering encrypted group messages Why CORDN introduces a portable coordinator CORDN’s privacy model, multi-device support, and use of Blossom Private groups, NIP-99 products, and a possible communication layer for open markets CORDN does not eliminate trade-offs. It takes a different approach: relays become an ephemeral transport layer, while an easily replaceable coordinator handles ordered delivery without gaining access to message contents. Could that model provide the reliable, private communication layer that open commerce still needs? Follow Gzuuus: Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqsypwwgtll74lqu4huvxzjwtjyxvrlkujt35rw8y026ke6ttesmg5g5fze9l GitHub: https://github.com/gzuuus Links: CORDN: https://cordn.net/ CORDN protocol and code: https://github.com/Cordn-msg/cordn Besao: https://cordn.net/p/npub1qc8quy6ah46k4q9es6fvjqjgk6rdv42cdsccnjhyx59j35n7azlq7ntwss ContextVM: https://www.contextvm.org/ ContextVM documentation: https://docs.contextvm.org/ Gamma Markets specification: https://github.com/GammaMarkets/market-spec Plebeian Market: https://plebeian.market/ Shopstr: https://shopstr.store/ Conduit: https://conduit.market/ NIP-99: https://nips.nostr.com/99 White Noise: https://www.whitenoise.chat/ Sovereign Engineering: https://sovereignengineering.io/ V4V Chicago 2026: https://www.chicagobitcoincollective.com/events/v4v-chicago-2026 “What Creation Asks of Us”: https://yakihonne.com/article/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzq4365vr4k4l9064aapxykx8cg3nfja9secwk8rfu7vhkzx2uk2f3qy88wumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmv9uqp2une2fung5psxdsk2jzzguexwcjyfd6h2ns99r83d Open Markets: https://openmarkets.pub/