Privacy: Who needs it and who doesn't? As "godfather of ZK" (as some people referred to me) I've spent a lot of time thinking, reading, learning, arguing about privacy on blockchain. Here's what I think about who needs it and who doesn't. Who *doesn't* need it? If: Blockchain is just an investment/speculation/side activity place for you + The scale at which you operate is small (<$100K) + You live in a free society If that's 👆 you, then you don't need privacy. Why? 1. In crypto, you're considered a small fish (< $100K). No one will try to single you out and go after you specifically, when bigger whales are out there. 2. If this is just a side activity for you, the implications on your social and financial standing in the world are what YOU choose to share (instead of what can be learned about you from looking at the blockchain). And, as mentioned, you're small fish (see 1). 3. If you live in a free society, you won't be easily harassed by authorities or thugs (unless you talk a lot about it, or associate with the wrong folks, which you shouldn't be doing in the first place, and privacy won't save you if you do). Now... Who *does* need privacy? If any of the following applies to you, you need privacy: 1. You're a business and want to put a lot of your activity onchain: Salaries, purchases, managing your treasury. You need privacy *by law*, and to protect your business interests. 2. You're a whale. Too many folks know too much about you, and that's unhealthy and dangerous. You're probably already mixing and shielding via centralized entities like CEXes, but you still need privacy. 3. You live in an unfree society, where being connected to certain transactions can cost you your freedom, and life. If that's 👆 you, then you need privacy. And for that, good thing we have STARKs.