Quick Breakdown
- Jack Dorsey and top Bitcoiners are advocating for Signal to adopt Bitcoin via the Cashu protocol.
- Developers criticize MobileCoin for being centralized, urging Signal to support Bitcoin instead.
- Privacy concerns arise as critics argue Bitcoin’s transparency may conflict with Signal’s encryption ethos.
Bitcoin advocates urge Signal to embrace Bitcoin
A growing number of Bitcoin supporters, including Block CEO Jack Dorsey, are rallying behind a new campaign urging Signal to integrate Bitcoin payments. The movement, dubbed “Bitcoin for Signal,” aims to weave Bitcoin into the encrypted messaging platform using the Cashu protocol, enabling private, peer-to-peer transactions within the app.
Dorsey reignited the discussion on Thursday by posting on X, “@Signalapp should use Bitcoin,” while resharing a post from Cashu, the pseudonymous Bitcoin developer spearheading the initiative. The project seeks to bring “Chaumian Ecash” technology to Signal, offering enhanced privacy for Bitcoin payments.
“Bitcoin belongs in Signal. Cashu ecash enables truly private Bitcoin payments inside the world’s most trusted encryption messenger,” the campaign website states.
Developers push to replace Mobilecoin with Bitcoin
Several prominent Bitcoin developers, including Peter Todd and Satoshi Labs co-founder Pavol Rusnak, have thrown their support behind the proposal. Todd criticized Signal’s existing payment system, MobileCoin (MOB) — introduced in 2021 — for its limited accessibility and centralized design.
Signal’s integration of Bitcoin could be a game-changer, considering its 70 million monthly active users, potentially transforming the platform into a leading hub for private Bitcoin transactions.
Dorsey has long maintained that Bitcoin must evolve beyond a store of value to fulfill Satoshi Nakamoto’s vision of a functional digital currency for everyday payments.
Critics question Bitcoin’s privacy compatibility
Despite the growing enthusiasm, some experts have warned that Bitcoin’s public blockchain undermines the privacy that Signal is known for. Aztec Network engineer José Pedro Sousa questioned, “Jack, why use a fully public blockchain for a privacy chat?”
Digital rights group Techlore also raised concerns that integrating Bitcoin could compromise Signal’s user anonymity, suggesting privacy-centric cryptocurrencies such as Monero (XMR) and Zcash (ZEC) as better alternatives.
EU’s encryption battle adds urgency
The push for privacy-focused payment systems coincides with the European Union’s controversial “Chat Control” proposal, which seeks to force messaging apps — including Signal and WhatsApp — to scan private messages for child abuse material.
Germany has opposed the move, citing constitutional violations, and the vote has been postponed until early December.
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