Edward Snowden Issues Urgent Privacy Warning to Bitcoin Community
In a stark message to the Bitcoin community, renowned whistleblower Edward Snowden has sounded the alarm on protocol-level privacy, citing the imminent cessation of Wasabi Wallet's coordination service as a catalyst for concern. The decision, announced by zkSNACKs, the parent company of Wasabi Wallet, has sent shockwaves through the crypto space.
Snowden, whose revelations on mass surveillance rocked the world, expressed deep dismay at the news. He urged Wasabi Wallet to explore alternatives, such as implementing a decentralized coordinator, to maintain crucial privacy protections for users. Snowden's plea underscores the critical need to integrate protocol-level privacy measures into the Bitcoin network.
The decision by Wasabi Wallet, slated to take effect on June 1, 2024, affects not only its users but also those of affiliated wallet clients like Trezor Suite and BTCPayServer. While Wasabi Wallet will continue to operate as a Bitcoin wallet, its diminished privacy features signal a pressing need for action.
Snowden's warning highlights a long-standing advocacy for bolstering privacy in cryptocurrencies. For years, he has stressed the necessity of integrating advanced privacy features into Bitcoin's core infrastructure to safeguard users' financial sovereignty.
As the crypto community grapples with this development, Snowden's call for urgent action resonates widely, emphasizing the pivotal moment facing Bitcoin's privacy landscape.
