{"id":48181,"date":"2025-10-14T09:33:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T14:33:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bitcoinmagazine.com\/?p=48181"},"modified":"2025-10-15T08:56:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T13:56:14","slug":"cypherpunks-dont-just-write-code","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bitcoinmagazine.com\/culture\/cypherpunks-dont-just-write-code","title":{"rendered":"Cypherpunks (Don\u2019t Just) Write Code"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Inspired by a conversation with Fedi’s Obi Nwosu–about the often single-line focus in Eric Hughes\u2019 \u201cA Cypherpunk\u2019s Manifesto\u201d (1993) <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cypherpunk Manifesto Wordcloud by Obi Nwosu generated via www.wordclouds.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cPrivacy is necessary for an open society in the electronic age. Privacy is not secrecy.
A private matter is something one doesn’t want the whole world to know, but a secret matter is something one doesn’t want anybody to know.
Privacy is the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world.\u201d
\u2014 Eric Hughes, \u201cA Cypherpunk\u2019s Manifesto\u201d (1993)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>It\u2019s All About Privacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In The Cypherpunk Manifesto<\/em>, privacy<\/strong> is mentioned twenty-four times.
It is the central theme<\/strong>, the foundation<\/strong>, and the driving purpose<\/strong> of the entire call to action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, in popular discussions, people often focus on a single line:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cCypherpunks write code.\u201d
\u2014 Hughes, 1993<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

That focus usually comes from those of us who do<\/em> write code \u2014 and we understand that the line means Cypherpunks write code to protect privacy<\/strong>.
But this narrow focus leaves out the rest of the Cypherpunk community \u2014 the broad majority who also play essential roles in achieving that goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Privacy Needs Everyone\u2019s Cooperation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cFor privacy to be widespread it must be part of a social contract…
Privacy only extends so far as the cooperation of one’s fellows in society.\u201d
\u2014 Hughes, 1993<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Cypherpunks don\u2019t just write code<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Code is meaningless without users, advocates, and educators \u2014 and, at times, privacy-focused lawyers<\/strong> to defend those who write it.
If only coders are considered Cypherpunks, we create a smaller, more vulnerable anonymity set \u2014 easier to target, easier to silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We should want some<\/strong> Cypherpunks to write code.
But we should also want Cypherpunks who:<\/p>\n\n\n\n