All readings, WeTheNorth Reading Room

Access

Getting to the storefront through Tor Browser

What WeTheNorth Market actually is 5 min
A short introduction to the Canadian Tor storefront, its history, and what makes it different from the larger markets.
Installing Tor Browser, correctly 4 min
One download source, one signature check, three settings that matter.
Picking a WeTheNorth mirror 3 min
Three current addresses. All equivalent. Pick whichever opens fast.
First login walkthrough 4 min
From paste to logged in, step by step, plus the check to run every session.
Registering a WeTheNorth account 4 min
Fresh username, strong password, mnemonic on paper, PGP key uploaded.
Placing a first order 4 min
Small, cheap, standard shipping, standard escrow.
Accessing WeTheNorth from mobile 3 min
Tor Browser for Android works, but desktop is preferred for anything credential-heavy.
Using Tor bridges when the network is blocked 3 min
Bridges hide that you are on Tor. Useful in specific ISP or country contexts.

PGP signatures, captcha checks, key management

What PGP signatures actually prove 4 min
Two guarantees, one anchor. Why the check matters at all.
Importing the operator PGP key 3 min
One command, once per keyring. Then never again.
Verifying a rotation message 3 min
Two commands. Look for Good signature. Compare the address inside.
Reading gpg output like a normal person 3 min
The lines that matter, the lines to ignore.
Kleopatra on Windows 3 min
The GUI version of the verification workflow.
The captcha URL check, per session 3 min
A five-second check that catches most phishing clones on the first attempt.
Common verify errors and what they mean 3 min
A short reference table for the errors you might hit and how to fix each.

Deposits, wallets, Bitcoin, Monero, funding paths

Depositing Bitcoin, first time 5 min
The workflow for a first Bitcoin deposit if that is the coin you already hold.
Coins accepted at WeTheNorth 3 min
Bitcoin at launch. Monero later. What each is good for.
Bitcoin deposit workflow 4 min
From wallet to storefront, plus the fee awareness that saves money.
Monero adoption in Canadian Tor markets 4 min
Why WeTheNorth defaulted to Monero and how the shift played out.
Wallet software shortlist 3 min
The wallets the Reading Room recommends per coin.
Non-KYC funding paths for Canadians 5 min
How to get coin without an exchange in the middle.
Coin swaps inside Cake Wallet 3 min
The Bitcoin-to-Monero swap that most Canadians end up using.
Withdrawing promptly 2 min
Do not leave a balance on the storefront after orders release.

The vendor system, bonds, disputes, ratings

Reading a WeTheNorth vendor page 4 min
The specific numbers to check, the ones to ignore.
Dispute ratio thresholds explained 3 min
Where the lines are and why they are drawn there.
Finalisation ratio, what the number tells you 3 min
Above 95 percent is healthy. Below 90 percent is a warning.
Recent reviews beat lifetime average 3 min
Why the last twenty reviews tell you more than the lifetime star count.
First-order protocol 2 min
Small, cheap, standard. Buy information about the vendor, not just the product.

Escrow flow, multisig, dispute resolution

Marking an order received 3 min
The signature that releases the coin. Do not do it before the package is in your hands.
The 2 of 3 multisig escrow model 5 min
Three keys, two release. What each key does.
The dispute workflow, step by step 4 min
What happens after you click Open Dispute, and how to increase your chances.
Do not finalise early 2 min
FE drops escrow. Almost always the wrong move.
What to do when a package is late 3 min
Timing, message the vendor, when to open a dispute.

Operational security for buyers and readers

Phishing defence workflow 5 min
Three layers of defence, in the order they run.
Bookmark hygiene 2 min
One canonical bookmark. Not five. Not one per mirror.
Recognising a real WeTheNorth address 2 min
Length, character set, prefix. The three quick checks.
Where to store the mnemonic 2 min
Paper works. Cloud does not. A few options in between.
Encrypt anything sensitive with vendor PGP 2 min
Storefront message system is encrypted, but PGP on top matters.
Session length and New Identity 2 min
Close Tor Browser between sessions. New Identity between accounts.

The storefront timeline and events

The WeTheNorth launch 5 min
How the Canadian storefront opened, and what was distinctive about the launch.
WeTheNorth timeline, launch to present 4 min
Dated events since 2021.
WeTheNorth vs international markets 4 min
Where a domestic market wins, where an international one does.

Reader mail, editorial notes, patterns

Reader mail patterns 3 min
What people write in about, and what the answers usually are.
Editorial notes on category drift 3 min
How WeTheNorth's category tree has shifted, and what to check before ordering from a category you have not used in a while.
Why we write this 2 min
The Reading Room mission in three paragraphs.