Craig S Wright Challenges Cypherpunk Interpretation of Bitcoin

blockchain.news:

Dr. Craig S Wright, the Chief Scientist at nChain and a self-proclaimed creator of Bitcoin, elucidated his perspective on the cypherpunk movement's misinterpretation of Bitcoin through a tweet on October 12, 2023, referencing a blog post he authored on October 11, 2023.

Wright's discourse begins with a critique of the cypherpunk activists who, he claims, misrepresent Bitcoin's intended goals. He references an analysis conducted by these activists, pointing to their assimilation of crypto anarchy and virtual communities ideals, primarily propelled by Tim May. The narrative extends as authors like Anderson in 2022, argue that Bitcoin enables cypherpunks to impose transparency on the powerful, a notion Wright finds in discord with Bitcoin's essence. He posits that Bitcoin, contrary to the cypherpunk ideal, veers towards secrecy rather than transparency.

Wright dives into the complexities surrounding law and the internet. He references May's 1994 proposition of a lawless internet, a concept quickly debunked as legal norms swiftly adapted to the digital realm. Citing Hughes' 2002 paper, Wright highlights the remarkable and rapid convergence of legal norms due to the internet. He underscores the efforts by international bodies such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in fostering a regulated cyberspace, thereby nullifying the idea of a no-law internet.

Furthermore, Wright explores the increasing global regulations, as highlighted by Ahram et al. in 2017, in response to the surge in cybercrime and fraud. He notes the pivotal role of legal frameworks in guiding blockchain technology's growth, despite the technology's purported potential