Bitcoin Integration Campaign Gains Momentum Amid Privacy Concerns

According to Cointelegraph, a campaign advocating for the integration of Bitcoin into the privacy-focused messaging app Signal is gaining traction. Spearheaded by several Bitcoin enthusiasts, including Jack Dorsey, the initiative aims to incorporate Bitcoin payments within Signal using the Cashu protocol. Dorsey, a prominent figure in the tech industry, expressed his support by retweeting a post from pseudonymous Bitcoin developer Cashu, who is leading the campaign. The proposed integration would utilize Cashu’s Chaumian Ecash solution, which promises to enable private Bitcoin transactions within Signal, a widely trusted encryption messenger. The campaign has garnered endorsements from notable figures in the Bitcoin community, including developer Peter Todd. Todd criticized Signal’s existing crypto payment solution, MobileCoin, for its centralized nature and limited accessibility, advocating for Bitcoin as a more viable alternative. Signal introduced MobileCoin in April 2021, but it has faced scrutiny for its small validator set. Other supporters of the Bitcoin for Signal campaign include pseudonymous Bitcoin developer Calle and Satoshi Labs co-founder Pavol Rusnak. With Signal boasting approximately 70 million monthly active users, successful Bitcoin integration could transform the app into a significant platform for peer-to-peer transactions. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the campaign, critics have raised concerns about Bitcoin’s suitability for a privacy-focused app like Signal. Some argue that Bitcoin’s public blockchain may compromise user privacy, suggesting alternatives like Monero and Zcash, which offer enhanced privacy features. José Pedro Sousa, an engineer at Aztec Network, questioned the use of a public blockchain for a privacy-centric chat application. Techlore, a digital rights advocacy group, also warned that Bitcoin integration could jeopardize Signal users' privacy. While Cashu offers a privacy-preserving solution for Bitcoin, similar applications have struggled to achieve widespread success. The push for Bitcoin-backed private messaging apps coincides with the European Union’s consideration of the controversial Chat Control law. This proposed legislation would require messaging apps, including encrypted ones like Signal and WhatsApp, to provide authorities access to private messages to detect child abuse material, potentially undermining end-to-end encryption. Germany has opposed the proposal, citing constitutional concerns over mass scanning of private messages. The vote on the law has been postponed, with another vote scheduled for early December, indicating that the debate over privacy and encryption is far from over.