Fact check: Bitcoin transactions have already been sent over 4,000 kilometers via radio. So, while governments can block the internet, they can't block the airwaves.

1. Summary of the results

The core claim about Bitcoin transactions being transmitted via radio waves is fundamentally accurate. Multiple technologies and successful demonstrations support this:

• Kryptoradio technology has successfully encoded Bitcoin transaction data into radio signals using digital broadcast networks like DVB-T ^{[1] [1]}
• A concrete cross-border transaction was successfully completed between Toronto and Michigan using amateur radio on the 40-meter band through JS8Call application ^{[2] [3]}
• TxTenna technology enables offline Bitcoin transactions through radio mesh networks with a range of 0.5-4 miles using UHF radio waves ^[4]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits several important technical details and limitations:

• The transmission range varies significantly depending on the technology used:
• TxTenna operates at much shorter ranges (0.5-4 miles) than suggested ^[4]
• Different radio technologies (UHF, amateur radio, DVB-T) have varying capabilities and limitations
• The concept isn't new - it builds on historical proposals by Nick Szabo and Elaine Ou from 2017 ^[4]
• These systems were primarily designed for specific scenarios like:
• Areas with internet censorship
• Disaster situations
• Remote locations with limited connectivity ^{[4] [1]}

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement "they can't block the airwaves" is oversimplified and potentially misleading:

• While radio transmission is possible, governments can and do regulate radio frequencies
• The statement implies complete immunity to government control, but:
• Radio transmissions require specific equipment and expertise
• Amateur radio is regulated in most countries
• Different technologies have different regulatory implications

Those who benefit from promoting this narrative include:

• Bitcoin advocates seeking to demonstrate the currency's resilience
• Companies developing radio-based cryptocurrency technologies (like GoTenna with TxTenna)
• Anti-censorship activists promoting alternative communication methods