Cypherpunk values are dying, but they’re 'Not Dead Yet'

The author reflects on his grandfather's innate distrust of banks and preference for hiding physical cash, realizing this reflects a historical, strong value placed on privacy that is now fading. In the past, surveillance was rare and records were siloed, offering 'practical obscurity,' but today data is constantly farmed and cross-referenced, making surveillance the baseline. The author contends that core cypherpunk values—privacy, self-sovereignty, and decentralization—are under threat, evidenced by public suspicion toward privacy tools like mixers, despite privacy being a normal human right. Citing Eric Hughes's manifesto, the piece emphasizes that privacy is about selective self-revelation, not secrecy. As control over identity, data (despite the 'right to be forgotten'), and property (despite the 'right to repair') is stripped away, the author announces Cointelegraph is launching a show, 'Not Dead Yet,' to discuss how these essential civil liberties can survive against increasing centralization.

(Source：Cointelegraph)