Part 5/13:
Participants discuss the challenges of legal landscapes, especially in the US, where financial laws severely restrict privacy. For example, the restrictions around the use of certain privacy-enhancing technologies or services like Tornado Cash have led to serious legal threats for developers. The conversation emphasizes the need to defend these tools as essential for individual freedom, not criminal activity.
Furthermore, there's concern about recent pushback against non-custodial wallets, with some companies like Phoenix Wallet shutting operations in the US, fearing regulatory repercussions. These stories illustrate how the climate is shifting, making building and operating privacy-centric tools increasingly risky.