Slow Progress on Privacy
Edward Snowden, the famous whistleblower, has been warning about Bitcoin’s lack of privacy for years. He believes that Bitcoin developers need to add privacy features to the protocol itself.
“I’ve been saying this for ten years,” Snowden said. “This is the last chance. Time’s running out.”
Wasabi Wallet’s Announcement
Snowden’s comments come after Wasabi Wallet, a company that helps improve Bitcoin privacy, announced that it will stop offering its privacy-enhancing service. This is due to increasing pressure from regulators and the need for legal clarity.
Continued Privacy Concerns
Despite Wasabi’s announcement, Snowden remains concerned about Bitcoin’s privacy. He believes that other privacy measures, like Tor integration, are not enough to ensure complete privacy.
Legal Challenges
The crackdown on crypto privacy tools by authorities, such as the recent charges against the founders of Samourai Wallet, adds to Snowden’s concerns.
Alternative Cryptocurrencies
Snowden has praised Zcash, a cryptocurrency with strong privacy features, for its advancements. He believes that Bitcoin needs to follow suit.
Samson Mow’s Response
Samson Mow, a prominent Bitcoin advocate, downplayed the significance of Wasabi’s announcement. He argues that Wasabi is open-source and that users can run their own privacy-enhancing services.
