Changpeng Zhao is sounding the alarm on one of crypto’s biggest blind spots: privacy.
The
#Binance co-founder recently argued that the lack of confidentiality in onchain transactions could be the missing piece preventing crypto from becoming a true payment medium. His point is simple but powerful—if a company pays salaries or vendors onchain today, anyone can trace those payments and see exactly who got paid what.
That kind of transparency might work for public ledgers, but it’s a non-starter for most businesses. Payroll, supplier contracts, and treasury movements are all sensitive data. If competitors—or even bad actors—can track that information, it creates both strategic and physical security risks.
CZ’s comments also echo a broader revival of the cypherpunk ethos that originally inspired cryptocurrencies: the idea that encryption and privacy are fundamental rights in a digital economy. Several industry voices now argue that without stronger privacy layers, institutions simply won’t move serious financial activity onchain.
There’s also a growing concern that AI could make the problem worse. As data analysis tools become more powerful, even small pieces of public transaction data could be stitched together to reveal sensitive business insights.
The takeaway is clear: transparency may have helped crypto build trust, but privacy could be what finally drives real-world adoption.
#CZ #Adoption #Crypto