Zcash co-founder disagrees with Saylor on Bitcoin privacy

Key Takeaways

• Eli Ben-Sasson and Michael Saylor disagree on Bitcoin privacy.
• According to Saylor, Bitcoin shouldn’t have Zcash-style privacy because it could allow nation-states to shut it down.

Zcash co-founder Eli Ben-Sasson shared insights from a conversation with Michael Saylor, co-founder of Strategy, revealing Saylor’s opposition to implementing Zcash-style privacy features in Bitcoin due to regulatory concerns.

According to Ben-Sasson, Saylor argued that Bitcoin should avoid Zcash-style privacy features to prevent giving nation states a justification to shut down the network.

The discussion highlights the ongoing debate within the crypto industry over privacy versus regulatory compliance. Zcash operates as a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that enables shielded transactions to protect user data from surveillance, positioning itself as resistance money for scenarios involving state persecution.

Strategy has heavily invested in Bitcoin as a core asset, with Saylor actively advocating for the cryptocurrency’s growth through public discussions and strategic initiatives.

The privacy debate reflects concerns among industry leaders about balancing user protection with regulatory acceptance, as stronger privacy features could potentially attract increased government scrutiny and intervention attempts.