How to survive outside of the state
Advanced privacy, sovereignty and censorship-resistance techniques
which work today
The current system is broken
The state has total control over the white market economy
The state's largest mechanism for surveillance and censorship
is the government ID system, also known as KYC
The state forces employers, landlords
doctors, banks, ISPs, cell providers
mailmen and even gyms and libraries
to require government ID
Without a passport or driver's license
it becomes difficult to find a job or a place to live
Not only does this put innocent people
under constant state surveillance
it also excludes approximately
1 billion people worldwide from the economy
KYC isn't only about
"handing over your data"
If that would be the case
it would be enough to simply say your name
or fill out a form
Instead
only people with a state-assigned document
are permitted to take part
The state's monopoly on identity
ignores reality, in favor of
gatekept databases and centralized control
Fortunately, agorism bypasses the state's systems
and allows everyone to take part in
free and fair markets
With agorism, you can find work
rent apartments, receive healthcare
and more
no government ID or state permit required
One problem with
the state's monopoly on identity
is surveillance
which stretches far beyond
the tracking and surveillance capitalism
of Big Tech
Via government ID systems
the state tracks innocent people
from birth certificate to death certificate
It compiles databases of
names, birth dates, photos
home addresses, jobs, bank balances
medical records and more
Which it shares with third parties
without the individual's knowledge or consent
This level of data collection is unnecessary
For example
Buying bread or a bus ticket
with cash doesn't require a name
Medical records should stay between
the doctor and patient
Many people only share their home address
with close friends and family
Government ID requirements
can also put people in danger
such as people who are escaping from abuse
or activists who are using a pseudonym
for safety reasons
What is worse than surveillance
is total censorship
The state actively refuses
to print ID for millions of people
which shuts them out of the mainstream economy
and makes it difficult to survive
If your country of birth or residence
refuses to print a birth certificate
passport or national ID card for you
there is nowhere to go and no appeals
Even if you have witnesses
are a skilled worker
can prove your identity via non-government records
or are willing to give fingerprints
there is no way to convince the state
to enter you into its database
In most cases
this problem starts at birth or early adulthood
and the individual has done nothing wrong
NGOs like Red Cross and United Nations
are aware of the exclusion and discrimination
caused by government ID systems
but they are unable to convince the state
nor offer alternative IDs
Jurisdictional arbitrage like Flag Theory
requires an already existing ID
Even the Californian driver's license
for undocumented people
requires an existing international passport
or ID card from another country
Old strategies like paper tripping
no longer work
It's difficult to find so-called corrupt bureaucrats
who would print ID for you under-the-table
In many countries
it's difficult to find fake ID vendors
and if you can find one
it may not work to open a bank account
or find a job
Ignored, blamed and even criminalized by the state
millions of people are left on the edge of society
without recourse and with great difficulty to
even earn money or find a place to live
Authoritarianism is increasing globally
Every year
more services require government ID
shutting people without ID
or who need privacy or pseudonymity
further out of the economy
During corona statism
vaccine passports required not only an untested vaccine
but also an existing government ID
In some countries
cops and soldiers patrolled the streets during lockdowns
and demanded ID from innocent people
As is clear to most people
this wasn't about health, but about control
Digital IDs and CBDCs
will make it worse
The claim that digital IDs will help unbanked people
is a lie that uses vulnerable people as an excuse
while continuing to deny them access to the economy
Just like the current system
access to Digital IDs and CBDCs
will require an existing entry in the state's database
Giving your name and fingerprints will not be enough
if you weren't already registered at birth
If the state really wanted to promote inclusion
it would remove the barriers to obtaining ID
or remove ID requirements entirely
There is nothing blocking the state from this
The exclusion is intentional
and the system is working as designed
If the goal was indeed mass surveillance
or even profiteering from money printing and taxation
the state would have no issue with entering people into its database
In reality
the state's pathological desire to bully, deprive and ostracize
is stronger than its desire to simply surveil and profit
The pervasiveness of digital ID
will only make survival more difficult
for marginalized people
For example
if grocery stores only accept CBDCs to buy food
and access to public transit requires Digital ID
In addition
even people who currently have access to ID
are at risk of exclusion from the upcoming Digital ID system
Corporate deplatforming is already a huge issue
and a centralized single point of failure
like CBDCs will make this worse
Anyone who resists could easily be cut off
from the statist white market
Agorism is already a necessity for many people today
and will become vital for many more
as state authoritarianism increases
As you can see
government ID is nothing more than an artificial system
designed to control, surveil and dehumanize
It should not be possible to exclude an innocent person
from the entire economy
and even push them to homelessness
just because a singular state bureaucrat
doesn't want to print a document for them
Everyone has a name
appearance, background and personhood
You should not need the state's permission
in order to have a name or to exist
KYC wasn't around forever
Even a few years ago
it was easy to rent an apartment
find work, send a money transfer
or buy a sim card
just by filling out a form and paying
This authoritarian power grab
is new and unnecessary
Things worked perfectly fine before
Peer-to-peer trust methods
are more inclusive, humane and work better
This can be as simple as saying your name
using a PIN to pickup mail
a vouch or portfolio to get a job
or a cash deposit for a rental
Instead of relying on state permission
agorist markets provide a much-needed alternative method
to find work, housing, healthcare and more
Agorism has worked since decades
including in authoritarian regimes
where it is needed the most
Agorist markets are also known as
gray and black markets
the informal economy
the underground
and Second Realms
There are many reasons to bypass state regulations
when doing business
such as saving time and money
avoiding censorship or restrictions
protecting your privacy
or ideological or humanitarian reasons
Agorism focuses on peer-to-peer transactions
small businesses and communities
No need for a global revolution
or corporate mass adoption
If you can get what you need from agorist markets
you don't need to worry about what the mainstream market is doing
Found an apartment for cash? That's winning
Earn crypto online? That's winning
Agorism is there for those who need it
and every transaction outside of the state is a win
Agorism helps you to build independence
from the games of the state, large corporations and geopolitics
which the individual can't influence
and instead focuses on local and global small businesses
and communities
where the individual's voice counts
Good people disobey unjust laws
A hotel owner who doesn't require ID
can save someone from homelessness
or help them to escape from abuse
An agorist doctor can save lives
A seller of anonymous sim cards
can help people to keep in touch with loved ones
or help an activist to fight for human rights
There are multiple ways to run an agorist business
The Gray Man strategy is when
a state-registered white market business
offers agorist services under-the-table
to trusted customers
Some examples
A phone repair store sells anonymous sim cards
on request
A hotel rents out rooms without ID
to people in need
such as victims of abuse or undocumented people
A restaurant hires a chef for cash under-the-table
so that they can pay rent
A doctor agrees to treat an out-of-pocket patient without ID
Proxy merchants are
individuals or businesses that have access to ID
and allow people to use their company as a proxy
to access services anonymously
An example is
a friend who sends a bank transfer for you
and you repay them in Bitcoin
Your roommate deals with the rental contract on your behalf
and you pay rent to them in cash
A local business allows you to pickup mail there
A company registers sim cards under their name
and resells them anonymously
Second Realm businesses
operate entirely outside of the state
without government ID or a registered company
Such as remote freelancing for Bitcoin
or lawncare for cash
Importing medicine from countries that don't require prescriptions
Selling your old car in Craigslist
Renting out your apartment for cash while you are traveling
Now some practical examples
covering food, finances, jobs
housing, healthcare, energy
logistics, communications, education
community and how you can get started today
Starting with food
It's still possible to buy food with cash
in mainstream grocery stores
Even when corona restrictions closed most other stores
or demanded contactless payments such as credit cards
and banking apps (which all require ID)
most grocery stores stayed open
didn't require vaccine passports
and continued to accept cash
However, it's still important to grow independence
from large corporations
and support small businesses and local farms
Whether that's growing your own food
and getting water from a well on a homestead
or buying from farmers markets
There are even farmers who accept Bitcoin and Monero
such as Gratuitas coffee
and Beef Initiative
In the future
if the state would force mainstream grocery stores
to only accept CBDCs
local grocery stores who accept cash or crypto
would become vital for access to food
In addition
proxy merchants who have access to CBDCs
could go shopping for unbanked people
Without government ID
it's impossible to open a bank account
or get a credit card
It wasn't always like this
It used to be possible to
open a Paypal account
buy a Visa gift card
or send a Western Union transfer
without ID
Now, you can't even send 20 dollars to a friend
if you don't have a passport or driver's license
Thankfully, cash still works for local in person transactions
and some online stores still accept cash on delivery
or cash by mail
Some online stores accept gift cards
that you can buy with cash from local stores
In some countries like the US
anonymous Visa gift cards are still available
Physical gold and silver work well as savings
Proxy merchants can send bank transfers
pay bills or purchase products on your behalf
and you pay them in cash or crypto
The most important tool for financial freedom
is cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin and Monero make it possible to send and receive money
worldwide, without government ID or a bank account
Perfect for online shopping
brick-and-mortar stores
remittances
jobs, fundraising, tips
savings and more
Many individuals and businesses
are building Bitcoin and Monero circular economies
which aim to make it possible to live fully on crypto
including food, jobs, housing, healthcare and travel
In order to pay for food and rent
you need a way to earn money
Sadly the state also has a monopoly
over the mainstream job market
Despite your skills
work ethic and effort
if you don't have ID
most employers won't even consider to hire you
Fortunately
there are many agorist employers
who value meritocracy and equal opportunities
If you can do the job, they are happy to hire you
Some examples are
under-the-table jobs for cash
for example
in construction, farming, factory work, restaurants
or selling products for cash in local markets
Additionally
there's remote work for cryptocurrencies
including software development
graphic design, music, writing and translation
It's possible to find remote work for crypto
in KYC-free freelancing platforms
like Microlancer and Freelance For Coins
as well as in peer-to-peer marketplaces
like Bitejo and Bitcoin P2P Marketplace in Telegram
Co-ops and collectives also offer agorist jobs
For example
a bicycle repair co-op
or a cafe collective
DAOs are similar to co-ops
and can be used for projects, jobs, fundraising and more
For agorist DAOs, check Dark Fi
Shelter is important
Protection from the elements
a place to sleep
relax, feel safe, and call home
But even a necessity like this
is gatekept behind government ID KYC
Peer-to-peer rentals help people to
access shelter outside of the state
Whether it's renting for cash from a guy in Craigslist
living with roommates who deal with the contract on your behalf
finding an AirBnB host who doesn't require ID
or joining an intentional community
like a housing project or an eco village
Proxy merchants could help people to rent white market apartments
while a crypto-friendly AirBnB
could help people to rent short-term and long-term accommodation
for Bitcoin or Monero
Intentional communities like eco villages
and Bitcoin Citadels
could provide an autonomous space
where people could live, work and thrive
outside of state control
Even if you pay with cash
and write your contact details and medical history on the form
doctors may refuse to treat you without ID
Not only is this against the Hippocratic Oath
it also puts people in danger
and unable to seek healthcare
Fortunately
it's still possible to find doctors
who don't require ID
via word-of-mouth or support groups
Generally this requires out-of-pocket payment
but there are also some charitable health clinics
funded by donations
where people in need can receive free or low cost treatment
A Bitcoin health insurance company
and network of Bitcoin-friendly doctors
could help people to access healthcare for an affordable price
as well as print health insurance cards
that people can use to visit doctors without government ID
A Bitcoin GoFundMe alternative
could also help individuals and charities
to raise money for medical expenses
It's also possible to
import medicine from countries that don't require prescriptions
such as buying from an international online pharmacy
This helps people to access the medicine
that they need to survive
In addition
biohackers are making it easier to DIY your own healthcare
Four Thieves Vinegar is working on ways
to synthesize medicines from freely purchasable re-agents
and advances are being made
in robotic surgery and CRISPR
Often, electricity and heating is included in rentals
and the landlord makes the contract
with the energy company
on your behalf
However, it's useful to build energy sovereignty
especially in times of increasing prices
or even risks of blackouts
Off-grid solar panels and batteries
can help you achieve energy sovereignty
Generate electricity from sunlight
even on a cloudy winter day
and store it in batteries for later usage
Even an emergency hand crank
or pedal generator
could help you to recharge your phone
or listen to the radio during a blackout
Gas generators and propane heaters
can also give you independence from the grid
Although there is still dependence on
oligarchs and national supply lines
you can buy gas in advance
and use it during a blackout
when the grid is inaccessible or rationed
In the future
community-run energy grids
and improvements in renewables and battery tech
could make it easier to live independently
from the state's energy grid
It can be difficult
to receive mail without ID
If you are living in an informal apartment rental
it may not be possible to receive mail there
and most PO box services require ID
Depending on where you live
there may be courier-operated parcel lockers
that only require a PIN that you receive by SMS
or general delivery may be possible with a passphrase
Some taxi apps offer delivery services
and accept cash
which works for local deliveries
In some cases
you could ask the taxi driver to pickup the package
from the post office on your behalf
It's also possible to
simply ask a friend or local business
if they could receive the package for you
In the future
a KYC-free PO box network
could help people to receive mail
In this concept
local businesses could sign up as PO box providers
and set their own fees and terms
Then customers could send mail to this address
and pick it up with a passphrase
Access to the internet
is also gatekept behind government ID
Most home internet providers require ID
although in some rentals
the landlord deals with the contract on your behalf
In many countries
even prepaid sim cards require ID
but some stores still sell anonymous sim cards under-the-table
It's possible to access the internet
by importing a sim card from a country that doesn't require ID
such as the US or UK
using an anonymous e-sim like Silent Link
or making use of public wifi networks
With more proxy merchants and public wifi providers
uncensored access to the internet
would be possible for everyone
Access to education and training
is also censored by the state
Universities, trade schools and libraries
require government ID, even if you pay in cash
Thankfully
there are accessible ways to learn new skills
such as with online education
and local hackerspaces and meetups
Youtube videos, online courses, forums
and open source software
help people to learn about any topic online
including software development, languages, music
writing and DIY
In addition
meetups, hackerspaces and anarchist libraries
make it possible to learn a variety of practical skills
such as electronics, carpentry, gardening
cooking, sports or even biohacking
The network of online classes
and in person community spaces
is growing
and it's getting easier to learn new things
improve your skills and meet new people
outside of the state's monopoly on education
There are already some agorist, libertarian and crypto communities
for example in Twitter, Telegram, Reddit and Matrix
as well as in person meetups and conferences
Bitcoin and Monero peer-to-peer marketplaces
like Bitejo and Bitcoin P2P Marketplace in Telegram
help you to build crypto circular economies
and buy and sell products and services
outside of the state
Spread the word about agorism
and help to build fair and free markets
that everyone can participate in
How to get started?
Find and use services that don't require government ID
Consider to accept crypto in your business
for example via BTCPayServer
or join a crypto peer-to-peer marketplace
Offer proxy merchant services if possible
Build parallel economies that operate outside of the state
and are future-proof against the dangers of CBDCs
digital IDs and increasing state authoritarianism
Join millions of people worldwide
who participate in the informal economy every day
For more information, check out
"An Agorist Primer" by SEK3
"Second Realm: Book on Strategy" by Smuggler & XYZ
Vonu Podcast
Agorism Blog
and learn about Bitcoin or Monero