- Edward Snowden is a credible privacy advocate.
- Solana‘s blockchain development approach was criticized.
- Some governments seek control through technology.
In 2013, Edward Snowden shattered assumptions of online privacy by exposing a global surveillance operation targeting citizens. Though his revelations came at great personal cost, they solidified his standing as a staunch advocate for privacy rights.
Speaking at Token2049, Singapore, Snowden criticized Solana’s centralized blockchain development approach, warning that it could ultimately play into the hands of authoritarian regimes.
Solana Under Fire
Answering an audience question at Token2049 about developing “safe” technology, Snowden highlighted Solana as an example of how not to build a blockchain. He stressed that true security requires being “adversarial” from inception.
Snowden explained that Solana takes good ideas but centralizes them to make the protocol faster and cheaper. While this may offer convenience, he warned that it also creates trade-offs in that it becomes “a system that has levers that people can simply just take from you.”
However, Snowden wasn’t overly concerned for now, noting that Solana’s primary use cases are limited to memecoins and scams rather than anything of value to state interests.
Snowden Reiterates Warning
Countering Snowden’s claims about centralization, Helius engineer “mert | helius.dev” challenged anyone to identify a specific attack vector that could compromise the Solana network. The dev dismissed assertions of centralization as “full of baloney,” urging critics to provide concrete evidence.
All the same, mert | helius.dev’s comment did not address the scenario of a state-sponsored coup. In contrast, Snowden discussed the recent Telegram situation, where founder Pavel Durov was arrested and later released.
The privacy advocate noted that the messaging app altered its terms of service following Durov’s release, illustrating the pressure centralized platforms face from authorities.
Snowden lamented that this is the harsh reality of the modern world, warning that some governments are actively working “to bureaucratize, to influence, to nudge, to shape, to ultimately control each and every individual within their territory, and beyond, to the extent made newly possible by technology.”
On the Flipside
- The tension between scalability and decentralization has been a fundamental challenge in blockchain development, with projects forced to prioritize one over the other.
- A libertarian would consider all forms of regulation an attempt to co-opt.
- There must be an appropriate balance between the extremes of complete freedom and authoritarian control.
Why This Matters
While Solana’s fast transactions and low fees might initially attract users, Snowden’s critique raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of its development approach.
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