In a message printed this Monday, October 20, 2025 on the X platform, Eli Ben-Sasson, zero-knowledge cryptography pioneer (ZK Proof) and co-founder of Zcash outlined who ought to prioritize privateness with Bitcoin. He additionally commented on who might do with out it, based mostly on elements corresponding to stage of economic publicity, social context and political surroundings.
Not all bitcoin customers require privateness measures. Those that see cryptocurrencies as a secondary funding, handle quantities lower than $100,000 and reside in free societies They’ll function with out main worries, stated the cryptographer in his X submit.
Within the cryptocurrency world, you’re thought of a small fish (lower than $100,000). Nobody will attempt to single you out or particularly chase you when there are greater fish on the market. If that is only a sideline for you, the implications to your social and monetary place on the planet are what YOU determine to share (slightly than what could be realized about you by analyzing the blockchain). And, as talked about, you are a small fish. If you happen to stay in a free society, you will not be simply harassed by authorities or bullies (until you speak about it an excessive amount of or affiliate with the incorrect individuals, which you should not be doing within the first place, and privateness will not prevent in the event you do).
Eli Ben-Sasson, pioneer in zero-knowledge cryptography,
On this case, transparency in cryptocurrency networks doesn’t symbolize a big threat. This so long as the person controls what they determine to share. Nonetheless, the image modifications for individuals who face larger dangers.
Ben-Sasson identifies three teams that want privateness
First, corporations that switch actions corresponding to payroll, buying or treasury administration to the distributed ledgers of cryptocurrency networks. Right here, the place confidentiality is protected by legislation, it’s important to what you are promoting pursuits. This group wants excessive privateness with bitcoin.
Second, the whales, whose monetary actions are seen. This It may possibly make them a goal for assault or exploitation if they don’t cowl their tracks.
Third, customers in non-free societies, the place sure bitcoin transactions might endanger your freedom and even your life.
For these instances, Ben-Sasson highlights the function of applied sciences corresponding to STARKs, a kind of zero-knowledge proof that he himself has promoted, as a viable answer.
Eli Ben-Sasson is a related determine within the subject of cryptography and cryptoasset expertise. An Israeli, he studied pc science on the Hebrew College of Jerusalem, the place he earned his PhD in 2001 beneath the supervision of Avi Wigderson.
He later accomplished postdoctoral research at Harvard and MIT. He was a professor on the Technion’s Faculty of Pc Science, the place he rose to full professor in 2015 earlier than leaving academia in 2020.
He’s co-founder and president of StarkWare, and one of many founding scientists of Zcash, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency.
His contributions embrace advances in zero-knowledge proofs, corresponding to STARKs, and exploring their software to enhance the scalability and safety of Bitcoin, a subject he started addressing publicly in 2013.
