Coinkite Tor Release Lets Developers Bypass Bitcoin Bans

Bitcoin wallet and technology provider Coinkite has announced Bitkit, its bitcoin wallet API, is now available for the anonymous communications software Tor.

The company framed the launch as one that will empower entrepreneurs working in countries with more restrictive laws against bitcoin, or that have moved to block bitcoin services, to build bitcoin apps and manage funds with its API.

“If you’re a developer making your site in a country that doesn’t allow you to do bitcoin properly, now you can access Tor through Coinkite and let us manage the operational wallet and you don’t have to worry about that,” CEO Rodolfo Novak explained.

The exec went on to say that services including the ability to send bitcoin via SMS and email, generate receiving addresses, check balances and import private keys are just some of the features that will now be enabled for Tor.

Still, Novak stressed that, despite Tor’s ability to provide greater degrees of privacy, he believes the API will most often be used for legal purposes.

Novak told CoinDesk:

“I’m always surprised by the amount of Tor users that are using bitcoin. If you’re an exchange and you’re using Coinkite as your operational wallet, now you don’t even have to reveal your IP or you can go through your country's firewall without issue.”

Novak framed the news as part of its continued support for Tor. Coinkite supports Tor access on its main website, an announcement first made last July.

Images via Coinkite; NeydtStock / Shutterstock.com