According to U.Today, Edward Snowden, the renowned whistleblower, has issued a critical warning to the Bitcoin community, stating that the time to address privacy at the protocol level is dwindling. This warning was prompted by the recent announcement from Wasabi Wallet, a prominent Bitcoin privacy solutions provider, that it will cease its coordination service from June 1, 2024. The decision, made by the company zkSNACKs, has sparked considerable concern within the cryptocurrency sector.
The implications of this development extend beyond Wasabi Wallet users. It also impacts individuals using other wallet clients linked to the zkSNACKs coordinator, such as Trezor Suite and BTCPayServer. Despite the termination of its coinjoin coordination service, Wasabi Wallet will continue to operate as a Bitcoin wallet, albeit with reduced privacy features.
Snowden expressed genuine disappointment at the news, suggesting that Wasabi Wallet could consider options for a decentralized replacement coordinator or implement alternative configurations to maintain privacy safeguards. He stressed the importance of incorporating privacy measures directly into the Bitcoin protocol, a point he has been advocating for years.
Snowden, a well-known privacy advocate, has consistently emphasized the need to integrate advanced privacy features into Bitcoin's core infrastructure to protect users' financial sovereignty. His latest warning serves as a strong call to action for Bitcoin developers, urging them to prioritize the integration of privacy-enhancing technologies at the protocol level. Snowden's message highlights the urgent 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.
