While Bitcoin transactions are most commonly conducted using an internet connection to broadcast them to the network and get them confirmed on the blockchain, it is possible to perform transactions without traditional internet service through alternative methods. These include:
Satellite networks: Services like Blockstream Satellite broadcast the Bitcoin blockchain globally via satellites, allowing users with a satellite receiver and antenna to sync with the network and broadcast transactions without relying on internet infrastructure.
Radio waves: Transactions can be encoded into sound signals and transmitted over long distances using radio transmitters and receivers, often integrated with the Lightning Network for efficiency.
SMS or USSD via mobile networks: In regions with limited internet, services like Machankura enable Lightning Network transactions using basic mobile phones over GSM networks. Users dial a USSD code, enter details like the recipient's phone number and amount, and confirm via PIN, with the process completing in seconds and notifications sent by SMS.
You can also create and sign a Bitcoin transaction entirely offline (e.g., on a hardware wallet), but broadcasting it to the network for inclusion in the blockchain typically requires some form of connectivity—though not necessarily internet, as shown above.
In cases of regional internet outages, the global Bitcoin network continues operating via unaffected nodes, and delayed transactions can sync once access is restored.
Did you pull that out of thin air?
While Bitcoin transactions are most commonly conducted using an internet connection to broadcast them to the network and get them confirmed on the blockchain, it is possible to perform transactions without traditional internet service through alternative methods. These include:
Satellite networks: Services like Blockstream Satellite broadcast the Bitcoin blockchain globally via satellites, allowing users with a satellite receiver and antenna to sync with the network and broadcast transactions without relying on internet infrastructure.
Radio waves: Transactions can be encoded into sound signals and transmitted over long distances using radio transmitters and receivers, often integrated with the Lightning Network for efficiency.
SMS or USSD via mobile networks: In regions with limited internet, services like Machankura enable Lightning Network transactions using basic mobile phones over GSM networks. Users dial a USSD code, enter details like the recipient's phone number and amount, and confirm via PIN, with the process completing in seconds and notifications sent by SMS.
You can also create and sign a Bitcoin transaction entirely offline (e.g., on a hardware wallet), but broadcasting it to the network for inclusion in the blockchain typically requires some form of connectivity—though not necessarily internet, as shown above.
In cases of regional internet outages, the global Bitcoin network continues operating via unaffected nodes, and delayed transactions can sync once access is restored.
I did not know how to use it without the internet. Good to know.