Snowden: Be Wary of Bitcoin's Privacy Risks, Its Transactions Are Not Anonymous

In his keynote address at the Bitcoin 2024 conference, Edward Snowden highlighted the pitfalls of political allegiance and privacy concerns surrounding Bitcoin. He urged individuals to get involved in voting, but warned against blindly following political ideologies. Snowden also raised significant concerns about the privacy of Bitcoin. He noted that Bitcoin transactions are not anonymous and can be traced back to individuals, which poses a risk to personal privacy. Despite the widespread misconception that Bitcoin transfers offer complete anonymity, Snowden clarified that most transactions can be linked through various entrances and exits, such as exchanges that meet regulatory requirements. This connection makes it possible to trace transaction history, which can reveal sensitive information about users' lives and relationships.