Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin Shifts Stance on Privacy

Vitalik Buterin's privacy stance has shifted, proclaiming status as being "Considerably more pro-privacy" than previous years.

Detailing the evolution of his mindset in a monologue on Reddit, the Ethereum founder outlined why he now believes "Having some privacy is a good idea."

I made a comment buried in a reddit thread yesterday about how my views on privacy have changed over the last few years, and was encouraged to signal-boost it.

These comments may not be aligned with his earlier position - dismissing the benefits of privacy technology for ordinary citizens.

Erin described how privacy technology could help rid humans of bias.

"Basically, I see privacy as a way to prevent signalling concerns from encompassing all of our activity, and creating spheres where we are free to optimize for our own happiness and just our own happiness, and not what other people think about us."

Pointing to the ability of "Law-abiding" citizens to interfere with the lives of others, Buterin also described privacy technology as an "Important self-defense tool".

Amid the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica debacle in which the absence of privacy technology may have swayed the outcome of a presidential election, Buterin's comments might carry weight.

In the context of blockchain technology, Buterin has been a historical advocate of privacy - perhaps just not its current manifestation.

Vitalik "Not giving away ETH" Buterin May 8, 2018.> If you really care about privacy, you would pick a decentralized coin.