Vitalik Buterin Supports Signal's Phone Number Concealment Feature

Vitalik Buterin Supports Signal's Phone Number Concealment Feature

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of the cryptocurrency Ethereum (ETH), has expressed strong support for the development of a phone number-free account registration feature being pursued by the messaging app Signal.

Recent news from Signal is very welcome. They are working to allow account registration without a phone number. However, this raises questions about what it will achieve and what it will...

Currently, registering for Signal requires a phone number, but recent analysis has revealed that there is progress in implementing a registration process that does not require a phone number within the server code. Buterin described this as "great news". He pointed out that reducing reliance on phone numbers could help avoid checkpoint-like risks such as surveillance and access restrictions by certain large companies and governments. He also mentioned benefits such as preventing service discrimination based on residence and improving censorship resistance.

Privacy Protection Challenges and Buterin's Perspective

On the other hand, he warned that in modern times, individuals can be easily identified from metadata such as transmission frequency and data size, and that mere "pseudonymity" is insufficient for privacy defense.

He argues that true privacy requires "unlinkability (making it untraceable) for each message" and highlights challenges in eliminating phone numbers, such as ensuring resilience against spam, DoS attacks, and Sybil attacks from malicious users. Furthermore, Signal is also exploring the introduction of a cost structure to prevent the generation of a large number of accounts, and efforts are ongoing to overcome technical hurdles.

Buterin has also included the implementation of privacy features for Ethereum in his roadmap, strongly advocating for the establishment of a secure communication environment that does not rely on personal identifiers in both Web3 and Web2, drawing attention to the future developments in this area.

This content is provided for general informational purposes only and doesn't constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Any events, rewards, online promotions, or related information mentioned herein should not be considered a recommendation, solicitation, or invitation to purchase, sell, trade, or otherwise deal in any crypto assets. Crypto assets are highly volatile and may result in loss. The availability of WEEX services, products, and related events may vary by region. You are responsible for ensuring that your participation is in accordance with applicable local laws and regulations.