BitcoinTalk, the renowned open forum for discussions on Bitcoin (BTC), cryptocurrencies, and the cypherpunk movement, is a historical source for Bitcoin-related information. Originating in 2009, the forum, currently managed by pseudonymous “theymos,” has been a pivotal platform in the crypto space.
On December 1, 2023, theymos declared a significant change by announcing the prohibition of “mixers” on BitcoinTalk.
“Bitcointalk.org aims to allow about as much freedom as is reasonably possible. But this is not a darknet forum, and with mixers looking ‘grayer and grayer,’ it’s no longer reasonably possible to allow linking to mixers.” — Theymos
The decision, justified by theymos, was influenced by the fact that some of these mixing platforms had been “taken down by law enforcement.” The ban, effective from January 1, 2024, targets platforms meeting specific criteria outlined by theymos.
“Mixer announcement topics” will be locked and archived, starting January 1, 2024. Users directing others to mixers risk being banned, and signatures referring to these privacy services will be deleted.
Privacy, a Fundamental Human Right
Despite being a controversial topic in the financial realm, privacy is acknowledged as a fundamental human right by international standards. Both the United Nations (UN) Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognize ‘privacy’ as a fundamental human right.
“The right to privacy is central to the enjoyment and exercise of human rights online and offline. It serves as one of the foundations of a democratic society and plays a key role for the realization of a broad spectrum of human rights, including in the digital sphere.” — International standards; OHCHR and privacy in the digital age
Privacy-boosting tools like mixers remain a subject of active discussion in various communities. However, these discussions will face active suppression on what was once one of the most popular open forums related to the topic.
