A HashPunk’s Manifesto

This manifesto is dedicated to the past and present cypherpunks that have paved the way for us. May they never be forgotten, for they will forever live digitally inscribed, and in our hearts.

Bitcoin was conceived as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system—free from gatekeepers, corporate overlords, and oppressive intermediaries. It was intended to be a financial revolution that returned power to the individual. We all stood at the dawn of something miraculous: a technology that relied on the many, not the few, to secure its network and validate its transactions. Yet as time progressed, specialized hardware, enormous mining farms, and centralized corporate entities emerged, concentrating the power that was supposed to be dispersed among us all.

Solo mining is an embodiment of the original dream. It is an act of individual sovereignty, where each person who runs a full node and mines alone does so without surrendering authority to a centralized cabal. By engaging in solo mining—no matter how small our hashrate—we resist a world in which a handful of entities essentially decide which transactions make it onto the blockchain. We remember that each block we find is a personal triumph and a reinforcement of the decentralized ethos at Bitcoin’s core. While large players focus on maximizing profit, our aim is the resilience and security of the entire Bitcoin network.

To restore this network to its diverse and formidable potential, we must illuminate the path for everyone who dares to mine Bitcoin on their own terms. That means supporting open-source hardware and software, making energy consumption more efficient and sustainable, hardware more accessible and affordable, and championing forums and educational content that guide anyone through the process—no degrees in cryptography or massive financial backing required. It means forming local circles of miners who share knowledge and resources but never cede control to centralized entities that threaten to place the protocol’s fate in a single set of hands.

True decentralization is more than just a technical measure—it’s a powerful political statement. By placing even, the modest fraction of computing power in as many hands as possible, we guard against the encroachment of influence that aims to shape Bitcoin to corporate convenience. Every single miner who returns to the practice of solo block discovery adds another layer of defense to our network’s immune system. As the hashrate becomes evenly distributed across millions of homes and humble setups, we demonstrate that the true value of Bitcoin lies in its unstoppable and borderless nature.

This is not an idle dream; this is our responsibility. This is our duty. If we are to honor the vision Satoshi entrusted to us, we must fan the flames of decentralization wherever possible. We must encourage each other to participate in solo mining, share innovations in hardware and software, and defend the Bitcoin network together. We must do this not only to rebel against centralized interests, but to keep Bitcoin the pathway to freedom it was always meant to be. Our movement gathers strength every time a single solo miner commits their piece of hashrate to the network, forging another link in the chain of financial freedom.

Some will call us idealists, pointing to the towering pools and industrial-scale facilities that have taken root in the Bitcoin landscape. But every movement begins with belief—in this case, the belief that strength can be found in a multitude of independent operators rather than in monolithic power structures. By mining solo, we participate directly in the confirmation of transactions and the creation of new coins, reminding ourselves and the world that we need no one’s permission. We trust only the code and the consensus of individuals like ourselves, who stand prepared to carry Bitcoin’s vision into the future.

Let this letter stand as a testament to those who remain dedicated to the decentralized ethos. Let it inspire us all to once again lay claim to the core principles of peer-to-peer money. Let it mark a renewed era where the loudest voices are not those of mega-corporations but those of everyday people who believe in the simple, radical power of any small slice of computing power working tirelessly—alone yet together—will secure our shared network.

In solidarity and in sovereignty, we mine. For ourselves. For each other. For Bitcoin.

Signed, Hashpunks globally.

12.22.2024