In a message revealed 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 may do with out it, primarily based on elements equivalent to degree 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 publish.
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 on your social and monetary place on this planet are what YOU resolve to share (reasonably than what could be discovered about you by analyzing the blockchain). And, as talked about, you are a small fish. If you happen to reside in a free society, you will not be simply harassed by authorities or bullies (until you discuss it an excessive amount of or affiliate with the fallacious folks, which you should not be doing within the first place, and privateness will not prevent in case you do).
Eli Ben-Sasson, pioneer in zero-knowledge cryptography,
On this case, transparency in cryptocurrency networks doesn’t characterize a big threat. This so long as the person controls what they resolve to share. Nonetheless, the image adjustments for many who face higher dangers.
Ben-Sasson identifies three teams that want privateness
First, firms that switch actions equivalent 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 your online business pursuits. This group wants excessive privateness with bitcoin.
Second, the whales, whose monetary actions are seen. This It could 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 may endanger your freedom and even your life.
For these circumstances, Ben-Sasson highlights the function of applied sciences equivalent to STARKs, a sort of zero-knowledge proof that he himself has promoted, as a viable resolution.
Eli Ben-Sasson is a related determine within the discipline of cryptography and cryptoasset expertise. An Israeli, he studied laptop 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 College 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 embody advances in zero-knowledge proofs, equivalent to STARKs, and exploring their utility to enhance the scalability and safety of Bitcoin, a subject he started addressing publicly in 2013.
