Kelvin Daminabo
Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, has issued a call to action to blockchain developers to prioritize implementing privacy measures in Bitcoin at the protocol level. This comes in response to the recent shutdown of crypto mixing services in the U.S. due to increasing pressure from law enforcement.
Snowden, who has been a vocal advocate for privacy and surveillance reform, has been warning Bitcoin developers for years that privacy needs to be addressed at the protocol level. In a recent post, he emphasized that “the clock is ticking” and urged developers to take action.
The shutdown of Coinjoin, a crypto mixing service, is the latest example of the growing crackdown on crypto wallets and mixers by U.S. authorities. ZkSNACKs, the developer behind Wasabi Wallet, announced its decision to stop supporting Coinjoin due to increasing pressure from law enforcement. This follows the arrest and charges against Samourai Wallet founders for illegal transactions worth over $2 billion.
The severity of the charges and the growing crackdown on crypto wallets and mixers have raised concerns among privacy advocates and developers. Snowden echoed concerns raised by Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, regarding proposed reforms to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Goitein warned that the reforms could lead to a wider surveillance state, and Snowden emphasized that the NSA is now “days away from taking over the internet.”
The shutdown of crypto mixing services and the growing crackdown on crypto wallets and mixers highlight the need for privacy measures to be implemented in Bitcoin at the protocol level. Snowden’s call to action emphasizes the urgency of this issue and the need for developers to prioritize privacy in order to protect users’ rights and freedoms.
In the absence of privacy measures, Bitcoin users are left vulnerable to surveillance and censorship. The recent crackdown on crypto wallets and mixers demonstrates the willingness of authorities to target individuals and services that prioritize privacy and anonymity.
Therefore, it is crucial that blockchain developers take Snowden’s call to action seriously and prioritize implementing privacy measures in Bitcoin at the protocol level. This includes developing and implementing privacy-enhancing technologies such as zero-knowledge proofs, ring signatures, and coinjoin. By prioritizing privacy, developers can help protect users’ rights and freedoms and ensure that Bitcoin remains a decentralized and censorship-resistant network.