A cypherpunk is an individual who advocates the use of strong cryptography to protect privacy and enable civil liberties. Cypherpunks believe that encryption technology can be used to undermine the power of central authorities and create a new decentralized society.
They are passionate about privacy, free speech, and the ability to communicate securely online without fear of government surveillance or censorship. In essence, cypherpunks are early adopters of privacy-enhancing technologies who are committed to using them to promote individual freedom and reduce the power of oppressive state institutions.
Let’s go back in time to the early ’90s when the internet was a space inhabited primarily by scientists, hobbyists, and hackers. The cypherpunks foresaw the internet’s greater potential, one that would become integral to everyday life. They predicted that as governments began to recognize the importance of the internet, they would attempt to control, monitor, and censor it. Well before the rise of social media, or the revelations published on WikiLeaks, the cypherpunks foresaw a future where online freedom was at risk. They believed that cryptography was the essential tool to maintain the internet’s freedom against Orwellian threats.
Understanding the Cypherpunk Movement
The cypherpunk movement, originating in the late 1980s, brought together individuals with a passion for cryptography and a desire to protect privacy in the digital age. These technologists, cryptographers, and privacy advocates believed that strong encryption and secure communication were essential tools for safeguarding personal liberties in the face of growing surveillance and government control.
Origins and History of Cypherpunk
The technical roots of cypherpunk ideas can be traced back to work by cryptographer David Chaum on anonymous digital cash and pseudonymous reputation systems, described in his 1985 paper “Security without Identification: Transaction Systems to Make Big Brother Obsolete.” Looking back further still, the works of Whitfield Diffie and Martin Hellman on public-key cryptography and additionally Ralph Merkle on key had inspired computer scientists, mathematicians, hackers, and activists into a movement by the late ’80s and early ’90s.
In 1992 Timothy May, Eric Hughes, and John Gilmore created a niche but highly influential group of approximately 20 people, including physicists, civil libertarians, computer scientists, and mathematicians in San Francisco. The cypherpunks convened to discuss challenges in programming, cryptography as a route to social and political change.
In one of the group’s monthly meetings, hacker and author Jude Milhon, or “St. Jude,” coined the name of the group would become known by, which was an amalgamation of the term “cypher,” the process of encrypting data, and a sci-fi genre cyberpunk. The group expanded its reach through a mailing list of like-minded, liberty-focused individuals who used encryption to keep their messages private.
The Cypherpunks Mailing List served as a platform for cypherpunks to exchange ideas, discuss cryptographic protocols, and debate the implications of privacy in the digital age. This mailing list became a hub for the cypherpunk community, attracting individuals from various backgrounds who shared a common interest in cryptography and privacy.
Phil Zimmermann’s development of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption software in 1991 played a pivotal role in popularizing strong encryption among the general public. PGP allowed individuals to secure their email communications, ensuring that only the intended recipients could read the messages.
Key Principles and Beliefs
At the core of cypherpunk philosophy lies the belief that powerful cryptographic tools, combined with technologies that were beyond the state to empower individuals to reclaim their privacy and freedom online. Cypherpunks advocate for the use of strong encryption, pseudonymous communication, and open software to protect personal data from surveillance and control.
“Privacy 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.” – Eric Hughes, “A Cypherpunk’s Manifesto.”
To cypherpunks, privacy is a fundamental human right. They argue that individuals should have the ability to communicate privately and conduct transactions anonymously without interference from governments or corporations. Describing the importance of privacy, Tim May, the author of “The Crypto Anarchist Manifesto” once famously stated that “privacy is necessary for an open society in the electronic age.” He also believed that putting faith in representative democracy was naive; he believed that only innovation could save us from the Orwellian state. In his words; “the interesting things that had happened had been technological changes, the telephone, the copy machine, the VCR, computers.”
The cypherpunks knew that digital privacy could not be secured using secure relays, encryption. To build a truly free digital playing cyberspace, we would need a native form of money that would have to be free from government manipulation and control.
Published Works
“The Crypto Anarchist Manifesto” by Tim May, released in November 1992 outlined the political and social implications of cryptographic technologies and their potential to challenge traditional power structures. It highlights the potential for individuals to exchange messages, conduct business, and negotiate contracts without revealing their true identities, facilitated by encryption and cryptographic protocols.
“A Cypherpunk’s Manifesto,” written by Eric Hughes in 1993, is a seminal document in the history of the cypherpunk movement. This manifesto articulates the philosophy underpinning the cypherpunks’ advocacy for the widespread use of strong cryptography as a route to social and political change. Hughes emphasized privacy as a fundamental right, asserting that privacy in communications is essential to a free society. The manifesto boldly declares the importance of anonymous systems, the need for public cryptography, and the right of individuals to protect their privacy against government surveillance and control, setting a foundational ethos for cypherpunks.
“The Cyphernomicon,” authored by Tim May in 1994, is a comprehensive guide and FAQ to the ideas and beliefs of the cypherpunk movement. This collection of writings delves deep into the technical, philosophical, and political aspects of cryptography and its potential role in shaping the future. It covers topics ranging from digital cash and privacy laws to the societal implications of widespread encryption. May’s work is both a technical resource and a manifesto, reflecting the radical vision of the cypherpunks: a world where strong cryptography empowers individuals against state surveillance and control, fostering an environment of enhanced privacy and freedom.
“True Nyms and Crypto Anarchy” is an essay penned by Tim May in 1996 delves into the profound implications of cryptography and digital anonymity on personal privacy and the broader societal structure, particularly in the context of the Internet. May highlights the influence of Vernor Vinge’s “True Names” and the work of cryptographer David Chaum on his thinking.
Cypherpunk Activities
Raise Awareness
Cypherpunks raised awareness through expert panels, media appearances, and publications. They engaged in public discourse, often participating in technical and policy discussions to educate and inform the public and policymakers about the importance of privacy, encryption, and digital rights.
Software Projects
Key software projects initiated by cypherpunks include the Mixmaster Remailer for anonymous email communication, Tor for private browsing, PGP for email privacy, BitTorrent for peer-to-peer file sharing, and finally Bitcoin as money. These projects embody their commitment to privacy, anonymity, and decentralization in the digital world.
Hardware Initiatives
In addition to software, cypherpunks invest in hardware projects to bolster digital security. A notable example is the $200,000 machine built in 1998 by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, with input from the cypherpunk community. This machine was designed to brute-force a Data Encryption Standard key in just a few days, showcasing their commitment to demonstrating vulnerabilities in widely used encryption standards and advocating for stronger privacy tools.
Lawsuits
Cypherpunks engaged in some critical legal battles, predominantly the Data-Secrecy Export Case. This case challenged the U.S. government’s restrictions on exporting strong cryptographic software, which cypherpunks argued infringed on freedom of speech. Their legal confrontations are pivotal in the fight to protect encryption, privacy rights, and freedom of information against governmental overreach.
Civil Disobedience
Civil disobedience is a key tactic for cypherpunks in opposing unjust laws and regulations. They often engage in acts of defiance against governmental overreach in digital spaces, championing the right to privacy and freedom of information, even when it means breaking the law to make a stand for these principles.
Cypherpunk Achievements
The cypherpunk movement has had a profound impact on the field of cryptography, shaping the way we secure information and communicate in modern times.
The cypherpunk movement, instrumental in advancing modern encryption, has significantly contributed to making robust cryptographic systems widely accessible. Phil Zimmermann’s involvement in the legal battles with the U.S. government over PGP’s distribution, with the support of fellow cypherpunks, underpinned the group’s commitment to privacy and data protection. This struggle not only exemplified the cypherpunk ethos but also underscored their relentless advocacy for encryption and anonymity.
This movement’s most notable triumph was its decisive role in the crypto wars of the 1990s, particularly against the U.S. government’s Clipper Chip initiative. The successful opposition to this encryption backdoor marked a significant victory for privacy rights, underscoring the cypherpunks’ influence in shaping digital policy. Their technical expertise and unwavering commitment to privacy not only defeated the Clipper Chip proposal but also led to the liberalization of cryptography laws, fostering a freer environment for encryption development.
The cypherpunks’ legacy is clearly embodied in Bitcoin, which was created by Satoshi Nakamoto, a pseudonymous cypherpunk, with its white paper initially distributed to the cryptography mailing list. Bitcoin represents the culmination of decades of mathematical and computer science breakthroughs, many of which were pioneered by Cypherpunks. Bitcoin’s peer-to-peer structure, cryptographic foundation, and Hayekian influence are testaments to the cypherpunks’ impactful solutions and collaborative nature.
Notable Cypherpunks
Tim May: Co-founder and key figure in the cypherpunk movement, Tim May is renowned for his influential work “The Crypto Anarchist Manifesto” and “The Cyphernomicon.” He was instrumental in shaping the philosophy of cryptographic privacy.
Eric Hughes: Co-founder of the cypherpunk movement, Eric Hughes authored “A Cypherpunk’s Manifesto,” advocating for the use of strong cryptography for privacy and freedom. He also managed the Cypherpunk mailing list and created and hosted the first anonymous remailer. It was Hughes who coined the motto, “Cypherpunks write code.”
John Gilmore: Co-founder of the Cypherpunks and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, John Gilmore is a prominent advocate for internet freedoms and civil liberties, deeply involved in cryptography and privacy-enhancing technologies.
Phil Zimmerman: Best known for creating PGP, Phil Zimmerman is a key figure in cryptography, particularly for his work in secure communication and privacy rights.
Steven Levy: As a journalist and author, Steven Levy extensively chronicled the tech world, notably in Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution, which highlighted the hacker ethic and digital culture in the ’80s.
Nick Szabo: A polymath in cryptography, Nick Szabo is famed for conceptualizing smart contracts and proposing Bit gold, an early digital cash proposal, significantly contributing to the development of Bitcoin.
Adam Back: A pioneer in cryptography, Adam Back created Hashcash, a proof-of-work system used in Bitcoin mining. He is the CEO of Blockstream and a notable Bitcoin voice.
Hal Finney: Renowned for being the first recipient of a Bitcoin transaction and avid participant in the cypherpunk mailing lists regarding digital cash, Hal Finney created RPOW in 2004. He was a key developer in the early stages of Bitcoin and a contributor to cryptographic privacy.
Julian Assange: Founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange significantly impacted journalism and information dissemination. His work emphasizes cryptography for secure data leaks and transparency. He is wrongfully imprisoned in the U.K., awaiting extradition to the U.S.
Matt Blaze: A computer security and cryptography expert, Matt Blaze is known for his research in security vulnerabilities, including the critique of wiretapping technologies and the discovery of the vulnerability of the Clipper Chip in the mid-90s.
Tim Berners-Lee: Inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee revolutionized information sharing and communication, laying the groundwork for the modern internet.
Marc Andreessen: Co-author of Mosaic, the first widely used web browser, and co-founder of Netscape, which invented SSL. Marc Andreessen is the co-founder of prominent venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.
Jude Milhon: Known as “St. Jude,” Jude Milhon was a prominent hacker and advocate for internet freedom. She was an early proponent of online privacy and first coined the term Cypherpunk.
Bram Cohen: Creator of BitTorrent, Bram Cohen revolutionized peer-to-peer file sharing, significantly impacting data distribution on the internet. He is also the co-founder of CodeCon and organizer of the San Francisco Bay Area P2P-hackers meeting.
Jacob Appelbaum: An advocate for privacy and security, Jacob Appelbaum significantly contributed to the development of the Tor Project, enhancing anonymous communication online.
Neal Stephenson: Renowned as a speculative fiction author, Neal Stephenson’s works, notably Cryptonomicon, explore and influence themes in cryptography, technology, and digital culture. Many characters from this book are derived from the Secret Admirers mailing list, a follow-on from the Cypherpunks mailing list.
Len Sassaman: A respected researcher in cryptography and network security, Len Sassaman was known for his contributions to privacy-enhancing technologies, including anonymizing networks.
Derek Atkins: A computer security expert, Derek Atkins is known for his work in cryptographic software and protocols, contributing to various open-source security projects.
Mike Godwin: Best known for Godwin’s Law (the longer online conversations go on, the higher the probability that someone will be compared to Hitler), Mike Godwin has been influential in internet law and advocacy, focusing on freedom of speech and digital rights.
Zooko Wilcox-O’Hearn: A prominent figure in cryptography, Zooko Wilcox-O’Hearn is known these days for his work on Zcash, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency.
Eric Blossom: As the founder of GNU Radio, Eric Blossom made significant contributions to open-source technology, enabling software-based radio systems and advancing telecommunications research and development.
Eva Galperin: A prominent cybersecurity and digital rights advocate, Eva Galperin is known for her work with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, focusing on issues of privacy, security, and combating online abuse.
Wei Dai: Creator of b-money, a drafts-stage precursor to Bitcoin, Wei Dai is recognized for his contributions to cryptography and digital currency concepts.
Satoshi Nakamoto: The pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto engaged with prominent Cypherpunks and submitted the Bitcoin Whitepaper to the Cypherpunk mailing list in 2008. Is the person or persons behind Satoshi Nakamoto actually Cypherpunk? That will have to remain a mystery.
The Future of the Cypherpunk Movement
In the essay “A Cypherpunk’s Manifesto” by Eric Hughes writes with a sense of profundity that “privacy is the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world.” This notion sits at the heart of the cypherpunk movement, where privacy and the right to personal autonomy remain as relevant today as they were in the early days of the movement. In the modern era, even though the original Cypherpunk mailing list has ceased activity, the spirit of the movement lives on. Today’s cypherpunks, either self-identified or those embodying the movement’s ethos, continue to champion privacy through the development of privacy enhancing tools and technologies. They are the torchbearers of the legacy, ensuring that the principles of privacy, security, and individual freedom continue to be prioritized in our increasingly digital world.
