Blockchain Goes Off-Grid: DAGs and LoRa Mesh Let Devs Mine Crypto in Disaster Zones, No WiFi Required (756 TPS, Zero Fees!)

Researchers have made significant progress in implementing blockchain technology on mesh networks without internet connectivity, enabling decentralized communication systems for disaster response, military tactical communications, and humanitarian aid. A study by Zi and Cong in 2024 proposed a blockchain transaction mechanism for delay-tolerant networks, while LeMahieu's 2018 Nano whitepaper introduced a feeless distributed cryptocurrency network. The IOTA Foundation's Tangle and Hashgraph's consensus algorithm have also shown promise for offline operations. Mesh networks, such as LoRaWAN and Bluetooth Mesh, have been successfully integrated with blockchain technology, with deployments in Puerto Rico and Jordan demonstrating their effectiveness. The World Food Programme's Building Blocks project has reduced transaction costs by 98% using blockchain-based incentives. With a solid academic foundation and real-world deployments, this technology is poised for wider adoption in remote areas without centralized infrastructure, with potential applications in various industries.