Thread by @offshorecap

Today, we'd like to introduce you to @AirTorProtocol, a new project that should be of interest for both our fellow $XMR $XHV maxis and our fellow DeFi degens.

So put your Fawkes mask on and let's discover $ATOR.

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1️⃣ Intro
2️⃣ Idea
3️⃣ Tokenomics
4️⃣ Our take
5️⃣ End

1️⃣ Intro

As members of the #PriFi cartel, our research mainly focuses on DeFi, privacy and FOSS solutions to counter the aggressive censorship and oligopolistic maneuvers of the globalist elites.

If you degens and normies think this doesn't concern you, think again.

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Kürz gesagt, the AirTor Protocol is a new project that aims to drastically improve the Tor Network in terms of speed, decentralization and accessibility.

To do that, you need more Tor relays.

Well, even most Tor users don't bother.

But what if you incentivized them ?

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First of all, to us, privacy isn't just another speculative BS narrative to flip a coin.

Don't get us wrong : we're here for the money and will flip a shitcoin with no qualms.

But when it comes to #PriFi, we're mostly here for the tech and we mean it.

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We come from a specific political background, so we do know how privacy, financial freedoms and resistance to abusive online censorship is important nowadays. Maybe we'll tell you more about our politicial views some day.

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In recent years, western governments took a hard stance against certain websites, online communities or activists ranging from Julian Assange to Alex Jones.

Doesn't matter what you think about them : the fact is that they were targeted because they challenged the regime

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Of course, there are many other examples, unbeknownst to the masses.

Those cases however outlined a growing tendency of our "liberal-democratic" governments to target, monitor or simply shut down online activities, mainly mere ideas, deemed "dangerous".

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When the targets were obscure edgy-fashy websites or rowdy online pundits, it didn't seem to be such a big deal. But as the globalist agenda rolls out, its ideologies (wokism, ESG, corporate communism, etc), threaten even the average law-abiding citizen

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Another issue with the current internet is its centralization and especially the domination of various private entities such as Google, Facebook, Amazon, Cloudflare, PayPal, the ADL, etc

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hackernoon.com/the-evolution-…

We're not against some kind of centralization where it's necessary, nor against censorship against immoral or actual dangerous contents.

But the fact is that the powers that be currently threaten the most reasonnable takes.

This is getting out of control

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The clearweb has become a huge hotbed of tracking, thought-monitoring, data-mining activities where privacy and financial freedom are at risk, especially as new totalitarian legislations are being drafted both in the US and in the EU.



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In terms of financial freedom, the apparition of Bitcoin, blockchain and DeFi has been a breeze of fresh air, and at least a temporary alternative to the increasingly monitored traditional banking system.

But it's not enough.

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So how do you solve this internet problem, where most of our financial and social activity goes through these days ?

Well, the Tor network might just be the solution.

But what is it anyway ?

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For most people, Tor has kind of a bad, or at least a sulfurous reputation, as it often rhymes with "Darknet", i.e. : criminal activities, hiring hitmans, p€d0 forums and red rooms.

Let's clarify things first.

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The Tor Network is a decentralized network of servers and computers that helps people stay anonymous and protect their privacy online.

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It works by routing internet traffic through a series of servers, making it difficult for anyone to track a user's online activity or identify their location.

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Tor relies on a network of thousands of volunteer-run servers (relays) to route internet traffic anonymously. These relays work together to create a virtual private network (VPN) that encrypts and obscures a user's internet traffic as it travels through the network.

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There are three types of relays in the Tor Network:

Entry relays, middle relays and exit relays.

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Because the Tor Network relies on volunteers to run its relays, it is a decentralized and community-driven project that is not controlled by any one entity or organization. This helps to ensure that the network remains open and accessible to everyone who needs it.

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Some relay operators are individuals who run a single relay from their home.

Others are part of larger organizations, such as universities or non-profit groups, that run multiple relays.

Some commercial entities run relays as part of their business operations.

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So, if you're a crypto bro with minimal knowledge, you may have noticed that the Tor Network really works quite similarily to blockchains.

But on the internet.

Tor is basically a decentralized internet with build-in VPN capacities.

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The funny thing is that Onion Routing (Tor's core principle) was originally developped by the US Navy to protect US intelligence communications online.

The alpha was released in 2002.

The Tor Project was founded in 2006 by several giga brains such as Roger Dingledine.

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So basically, Tor's "bad reputation" is not fair as the network, as any technology, is neutral.

Lots of criminal activities happen on the clearweb as well by the way.

So, just consider Tor as a different kind of internet.

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There are some issues with Tor.

As any one can set up Tor relays, you basically have to trust those relays through which your (encrypted) traffic goes.

In 2021, a security researcher identified a threat actor running 100s of malicious relays.

therecord.media/a-mysterious-t…

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Such a huge operation usually requiring serious amounts of ressources and money, astute commentators suspected that those malicious relays were probably ran by some gov agency.

Check out Mental Outlaw's video for more on this :

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It is estimated that Tor currently runs on about 6000 to 7000 relays spread all around the world.

As said, those can be individuals, non-profit orgs, univerties or companies. Or the FBI.

So basically, the more relays, the more Tor's traffic is secure.

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The other issue with Tor is obvious for anyone here that already used it : SPEED.

Surfing of Tor can be SLOW as hell.

Which is understandable since 6000-7000 relays isn't much for a world-wide network.

Now enter's @AirTorProtocol key proposal.

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2️⃣ Idea

We saw that Tor works as a encrypted decentralized internet of sorts

We saw that key issues with Tor are :

- Security/scale
- Speed

Both issues can be solved with more relays with good bandwidth.

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But here's the thing : why would you want to run a Tor relay in the first place ?

What's the incentive ?

Most individuals who run Tor relays are usually privacy buffs. Univs and non-profits do it for research, humanitarian causes, support Tor.

Or snitch to the feds

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Yet, basically, none of these people gain any benefit running a Tor relay, exception made, maybe, for some businesses that offer Tor connexion as a by-product of sorts.

But basically, there's no other incentive except sheer conviction.

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Here's AirTor's idea : incentivize people to run Tor relays.

AirTor plans to sell physical relays which people can buy and plug to their internet connexion.

Relays are rewarded with $ATOR for providing bandwidth to the network.

This is called "proof of uptime"

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While the idea isn't entirely new, this is actually a GENIUS move.

Other crypto projects attempted to set up similar ideas or networks.

But BIG difference here : the network (Tor) already exists and thousands are already using it.

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One kinda "similar" project was the Helium Network, which was more like a IOT project running on LoRaWan/LongFi protocols.

So nothing related to Tor or even with providing serious internet connection, but the reward mechanism was a bit similar.

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The similarity is that people could buy and set up a Helium router to support the network, while being rewarded with $HNT tokens.

Started during the 2020 bullrun, the Helium network had quite a huge success at its beginnings and was worth billions at some point

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However, the IOT fad didn't last, bullrun ended and nobody really used the Helium network anyway.

Like, who actually uses IOT devices lol

@coffeebreak_YT made a very good video on this :



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Now, while nobody uses IOT devices or needs a specific type of BS connection for those, EVERYBODY DOES use the internet EVERYDAY.

And more and more normies are now used to VPNs and are at least aware of basic privacy/security issues of today

There's a REAL market

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This is why AirTor could be huge.

A lot of people understand the need for online privacy and censor-resistant solutions that don't cost much.

Tor seems like a good, open-source, decentralized, cheap solution.

Internet by the people, for the people (populist moment)

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The challenge here is to make Tor safer, faster and eventually more respectable for the public.

Thus, more relays are needed.

Thus, incentives are needed.

Hence, AirTor.

Genius move and huge potential.

Impressive. Now let's see the tokenomics

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3️⃣ Tokenomics

There's a max supply of 100 000 000 $ATOR tokens, with approx. 50% of them already issued on Uniswap since the stealth launch that occured in late February 2023.

As of now, $ATOR is basically a ERC-20 token. This may change in the future.

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As said, proof-of-uptime is the validation mechanism used by the protocol to give $ATOR rewards to registered ToR relays.

To ensure useful uptime cannot be faked, AirTor verifies uptime for a given relay through specialised PoU packets that are themselves ToR Packets.

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The current $ATOR token will especially fulfil two functions :

1) Funding : proof-of-concept prototypes, dedicated blockchain, marketing

2) Early ATOR holders will be able to redeem their tokens for the first round of hardware products (relays)

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The current contract holds 25% of the max supply to facilitate the post-launch taxation scheme.

Currently, there's no buy/sell fee, which is good as we tend to have a bad opinion of such practices, especially for new projects without a working product.

Fair so far

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As seen below, there're plans to set buy/sell fees on the long term.

10% allocation for the team (vested, which is fair, but how long ?)

10% for node rewards (which seems low)

10% for CEX listing (fair we guess)

Contract isn't renounced yet, so be aware of that.

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There isn't much more intel about the tokenomics as of now, but you can have a goo at the documentation on their website and make your own opinion :

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docs.airtor.org/on-chain/smart…

At press time, the $ATOR token (and the whole project) is only one-week old.

Since then, $ATOR rose by +3000% and now peaked at 0,05$.

In a few days, the project already gathered quite an enthusiastic community on Twitter and Telegram.

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4️⃣ Our take

Obviously, we really, really do like AirTor's core proposition. Once again, this is truly a genius idea.

And the whole idea especially appeals to us, as privacy/Monero/haven nerds, of course.

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Tbh, we kinda faded $ATOR a few days ago because we saw @IncomeSharks being a tad skeptical about it, and we tend to respect his sane instincts. And with some much hyped, scammy, useless stuff popping up in DeFi everyday, he's more than right to be extra cautious.

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Hopefully, we stumbled upon AirTor once again later on, and after some research, we came to the conclusion that this was a solid idea with a big potential.

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Didn't find much intel about the founders, but anonymity isn't a problem for us obivously.

Proof-of-work is, however.

Founder was at #EthDenver this week and attended the Tor panel

We like this kind of IRL interactions

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At EthDenver, dev took a few videos of one of his relay prototypes.

Seems interesting. We would like to see more, have more technical details, etc.

Dev made a quick AMA yesterday while at EthDenver. We were in the space, but didn't recorded.

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Dev also posted a dashboard preview on the Telegram channel.

Looks cool. Would like to see it live.

As you can see, this really looks like a mining dashboard.

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The project has a github, but not much activity so far.

Full release of the open source code is planned for April, as per the project's docs and instructions to build Tor routers

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github.com/AirTorProtocol

The roadmap seems concise and well-put, and extends up to Q2 2024.

Q2 2023 : Dashboard access for existing Tor nodes + $ATOR incentives

Q1 2024 : Release of relay hardwares + Setting up their own ATOR blockchain + LoRa routers prototypes

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docs.airtor.org/roadmap

Reading the docs, it appears to us that the author knows what he's talking about and even seems to be a high IQ dude, in fact.

Of course, only proof of work will show us if dev is really based or not.

If he is, as we suspect, this project can be YUGE.

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Regarding the tokenomics, we reckon that $ATOR 's price should be much higher than what it is right now in order to reach a valuation at which it will properly work as a sustainable incentive for relays.

Something like 2-5$ per $ATOR would be a good start.

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Take notice that, as per the docs, it looks like routers and relays will be only be purchased with $ATOR tokens, which could constitute a good incentive for miners willing to set up consequent "Tor farms" and create buying pressure mid-term.

Dev wants to create their own $ATOR blockchain. This is quite ambitious, but it would make sense if you already have a whole community of relayers/miners on the TOR network.

A EVM-compatible chain with built-in privacy would be a good idea and could establish a new standard.

So, overall, this is a great idea with massive potential.

We like the fact that the project didn't caught too much attention at the moment, even if there's already a quite enthusiastic community that flocked into it. This looks pretty organic so far, which pleases us.

The next challenges are :

- Team's ability to deliver on time at each step
- Moderating the community
- Educating about Tor
- Good and organic PR (no shill or price talk)

For this, we would recommand to reach out to already established #PriFi communities first

Once #PriFi communities are on board, reach out to the DeFi space, then the open-minded normies, especially those who are the most receptive to the idea of a decentralized internet "for the people, by the people".

Stay away from shady influ-shills at all costs.

As per our January report, the "privacy narrative" will be big during the hypothetical next bull run. VPN industry is massive. Regulators going nuts. Degens are targeted. CBDCs and woke tyranny are now mainstream themes. There's a market.

offshorecapital.xyz/produit/secret…

Can the project actually catch up and scale-up ?

Potentially, yes. Really.

Now, it really depends on the execution.

Is the dev really based ?

We want to see.

5️⃣ End

That's all folks. Hope you enjoyed this yet another GIGA-THREAD.

If you liked it, give us a follow ( @offshorecap ), retweet, subscribe to our monthly Secret Report, or whatever.

Have a good day and God bless.

offshorecapital.xyz/shop/

And don't forget to check out AirTor's project :

Twitter : @AirTorProtocol

Site : airtor.org

Docs : docs.airtor.org

Telegram : t.me/AirTorEntry

Want to take a deep dive into that $ATOR rabbit hole ? Search no more dear sir, we got you covered. Click here to get the most up-to-date infos about this unique privacy-focused project :

https://twitter.com/offshorecap/status/1632590461272571905?s=20