Edward SnowdenThe famous whistleblower known for exposing mass surveillance programs, has issued a critical warning to the Bitcoin (BTC) community, stating that time is running out to address privacy at the protocol level.
Edward SnowdenThe famous whistleblower known for exposing mass surveillance programs, has issued a critical warning to the Bitcoin (BTC) community, stating that time is running out to address privacy at the protocol level.
The caution comes in response to the recent announcement by Wasabi Wallet, a leading player in Bitcoin privacy solutions, declaring the cessation of its coordination service effective June 1, 2024. The decision, attributed to the company zkSNACKs, has aroused great concern within the cryptocurrency. space.
The development has broader implications beyond Wasabi Wallet users. It affects people who use other wallet clients connected to the zkSNACKs coordinator, such as Trezor Suite and BTCPayServer. Despite the cessation of its coinjoin coordination service, Wasabi Wallet will continue to function as a Bitcoin wallet, albeit with reduced privacy features.
Snowden expressed genuine sadness at the news and suggested that Wasabi Wallet could explore options for a decentralized replacement coordinator or implement alternative configurations to maintain privacy safeguards. He emphasized the urgency of integrating privacy measures directly into the Bitcoin protocol, citing years of advocating for this crucial development.
The renowned privacy advocate has long been a strong advocate for improving privacy within cryptocurrency. Over the years, Snowden has stressed the need to build advanced privacy features into Bitcoin’s core infrastructure to safeguard users’ financial sovereignty.
This latest warning serves as a wake-up call to Bitcoin developers, urging them to prioritize integrating privacy-enhancing technologies at the protocol level. Snowden’s message underscores the imminent need to strengthen privacy architecture to withstand potential regulatory challenges and ensure the long-term viability of cryptocurrency as a tool for financial autonomy and privacy protection.
