Ethereum researcher says staking reveals IP address sparking privacy concerns

1 year ago

A researcher astatine the Ethereum Foundation said helium had “internally” discovered that staking Ether reveals a user's IP code information.

Ethereum researcher   says staking reveals IP code  sparking privateness  concerns

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A researcher astatine the Ethereum Foundation (EF) revealed that the IP addresses of Ether (ETH) stakers are monitored arsenic portion of a broader acceptable of metadata, causing the cryptocurrency assemblage to emblem Ethereum for privateness concerns.

In an April 12 interview connected the crypto podcast Bankless, EF researcher Justin Drake revealed that helium learned this accusation “internally” — presumably astatine EF.

The metadata Drake referred to is utilized to way a wide scope of things, helium explained:

“There’s a batch of metadata, you tin look astatine deposit addresses, you tin look astatine withdrawal addresses, you tin look astatine interest recipients, you tin look astatine IP addresses.”

Drake’s comments appeared to person taken Bankless big Ryan Sean Adams by surprise.

Ethereum = 1984 chain

Justin Drake, who works arsenic the "Researcher" astatine the Ethereum Foundation, said contiguous that erstwhile you involvement your ETH, you tin beryllium tracked via IP address.

He says helium knows accusation "internally" that specified databases exist. pic.twitter.com/2V6DvTobL3

— Pledditor (@Pledditor) April 13, 2023

“So it’s a reasonably Sybil resistant dataset of your astir progressive Ethereum citizens?” Adams asked.

“Exactly,” Drake responded.

The speech was initiated erstwhile Drake predicted that “special airdrops” whitethorn go disposable for solo stakers — but not the manufacture heavyweights:

“Then you tin identify, okay, we cognize who Kraken is, we cognize who Coinbase is, and we tin conscionable not springiness them an airdrop if the intent of the airdrop is to airdrop to circumstantial individuals that are moving solo validators.”

The speech caused a disturbance connected Crypto Twitter.

Related: Crypto privateness is successful greater jeopardy than ever earlier — here's why

One Twitter idiosyncratic referred to Ether arsenic the “real surveillance coin,” portion another mocked Drake by sarcastically rehashing him: “We tin halt censorship by censoring those we don’t like.”

Another described the concern arsenic “central governance to a T.”

To resolve the privateness concerns, 1 Twitter idiosyncratic suggested Ethereum users instrumentality on-chain privateness responsibilities into their ain hands by installing a Linux operating system, utilizing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and storing cryptoassets connected a hardware wallet specified arsenic Ledger:

DeFi information setup:
- Linux strategy
- VPN 24/7
- Ledger (hardware wallet)

Protect yourselves from information mining and scams

Am I missing anything? https://t.co/X2YrGwpbdx

— DeFi Crypto Vaults (@DefiVaults) April 13, 2023

It isn’t the archetypal privacy-related connection to person caused a disturbance successful the crypto assemblage either.

ConsenSys, the squad down Ethereum wallet Metamask began collecting IP addresses successful November. The argumentation amendment was made to guarantee that the steadfast could comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) wherever necessary.

Cointelegraph contacted Drake and the Ethereum Foundation for remark but did not person an contiguous response.

Magazine: ‘Account abstraction’ supercharges Ethereum wallets: Dummies guide

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