X’s New Location Feature Sparks Privacy Concerns Among Crypto Leaders
A recent update on X has stirred debate in the crypto community as the platform rolled out a feature displaying the country or region of account holders.
The feature, introduced on 22 November 2025 through the “About This Account” section, is intended to help verify user authenticity and improve platform integrity.
However, the move has raised alarm over privacy risks, particularly from leading figures in the cryptocurrency world.
Vitalik Buterin Flags Risks And Potential Manipulation
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin voiced concerns about the new feature, describing it as “risky” and agreeing with users who raised privacy objections.
He highlighted that while some initial transparency could be beneficial, “some accounts will eventually find ways to pretend to be from countries that they are not.”
Buterin emphasised that even limited exposure can be dangerous for certain individuals, noting,
“In most cases, revealing country still leaves a very large anonymity set, but there are some people for whom even a few bits of leakage are risky, and they should not have their privacy retroactively rugpulled with no recourse.”
Buterin also warned that sophisticated actors could exploit the system within months, creating accounts that spoof locations to appear as though they operate from specific countries, potentially influencing political discussions.
He added that while faking locations for a million accounts might be challenging, creating one fraudulent account and growing it to a large following would be feasible using rented passports, phone numbers, and IP addresses.
Crypto Executives Join Privacy Debate
The update has faced criticism from other crypto leaders.
Uniswap founder Hayden Adams said,
“I hate it. Opt-in doxing is fine, mandatory doxing is psychotic.”
His comment highlighted how forced visibility contradicts fundamental privacy principles.
Andrei David, CTO at Summer.fi, echoed the sentiment, stating,
“The problem isn’t showing country; it’s forcing everyone into visibility without notice. A privacy-sensitive feature should always start with the least revealing setting.”
Concerns from the community largely focus on the potential for attackers to target high-net-worth individuals, as revealing an account’s country could make them more identifiable.
Opt-Out Options And User Guidance
In response to criticism, X’s director of product, Nikita Bier, noted that users can limit visibility by showing only their region.
Community members have shared steps to opt out: navigate to Settings & Privacy → Privacy & Safety → disable country visibility or switch to region/continent display.
While some see this as a solution, critics argue that such privacy protections should be the default setting rather than optional.
Mixed Reactions And Broader Implications
Not all users expressed concern.
Some argued that revealing a country in large-population nations like the US, with approximately 350 million people, would not easily identify individuals.
Others, including crypto venture capitalist Nic Carter, suggested that location visibility could prevent foreign actors from misrepresenting themselves in political discussions.
Location Transparency Could Challenge Trust And Safety
Coinlive observes that while transparency may strengthen platform credibility, enforcing mandatory location disclosure without consent risks alienating users and exposing them to harm.
Even small data leaks can have outsized consequences in politically sensitive environments or for high-profile crypto participants.
Platforms must rethink how privacy is embedded in their design: voluntary disclosure, granular controls, and default safety-first settings are essential to maintaining user trust and sustaining healthy digital ecosystems.
The balance between openness and privacy is no longer optional—it is the foundation of responsible platform growth.
Joy
Clement
Davin
YouQuan
Hui Xin
Catherine