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After an eventful opening day that saw discussions around the impact of Web3 and the growing adoption of the tech, Cointelegraph is all set to bring the key updates from the second day of the Summit at PBW 2023. 9355 Total views 60 Total shares Listen to article 0:00 Event Own this piece of history

Collect this article as an NFT Paris Blockchain Week (PBW) kicked off its fourth year as one of the worlds largest conferences tackling all things blockchain, crypto and Web3. The event hosts over 10,000 attendees and sold out last year.

Following two days packed with hackathons, talent fairs and investor demos, the main event of the week, the summit, continues with its second day on March 23.

The Cointelegraph team is stationed in Paris to bring readers the latest news from the ground, presented below in ascending order (the newest story at the top). Time stamps are in UTC.Paris Blockchain Week Summit 2023: Day 2

Cointelegraph journalist Joseph Hall sat down with 1Inch co-founderSergej Kunz to discuss the present and future of the crypto ecosystem. Kunz shared his thoughts on numerous topics including the limitations of investing for ordinary people, what mass adoption looks like and big companies jumping into the Web3 space.Read more here.

? Our interview with @deacix, Co-Founder of @1inch here at @ParisBlockWeek

He shares his vision on what the future of #crypto has in store. 'As soon as we have people who understand that there's a non-custodial way… then we achieve the mass adoption' #PBW2023 pic.twitter.com/DwCqkeSaIN— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) March 23, 2023

12:00: Thenext panel discussion focused on the impact of Web3 on startups and investors, moderated byMichael Amar – chairman of Paris Blockchain Week. The panel discussion was joined byIgneus Terrenus, partner relations at BitDAO, Laurenz Apiarius, founder of Blockwall Digital, Dan Tapiero, founder of 10T Holdings, Amos Meiri, founding partner at Node Capital, and Eden Shochat, Equal Partner at Aleph VC. The panel discussion revolved around the role of investors amid the emerging importance of governance and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs.)

The panel experts shared their views on the ongoing debate around crypto tokens deemed as securities and how the Web3 ecosystem is tackling the financial aspect of the innovation.Apiarius talked about the impact of bad actors in a new economic sector like Web3 and the role of investors. He explained:The movement of Web3 is misused by some bad entrepreneur land its the job of investors to filter that and not pit capital into entrepreneurs that make fun of it.”Dan Tapiero, Igneus Terrenus, Laurenz Apiarius, Eden Shochat,Amos Meiri, and Michael Amar (from left to right).

11:30 am: The new panel discussion titled ‘The Ethics of Web3’ revolved around public policy and was moderated byMoojan Asghari, the co-founder of Thousand Faces. The panel consisted ofOscar Wendel, senior manager at Dubai World Trade Centre, Margaux Frisque, co-founder of d&a Partners, and Dr Loic Brotons, CEO of Galeon.

The industry experts on the panel shed light on the role of ethics in a fast paced evolutionary tech like blockchain and Web3. Asghari in her address noted thatEthical frameworks or standards always lag behind the advancement of the technology and explained:”This is the biggest challenge of ethics – what are the right questions to ask ourselves today, in order to make sure that the technology doesnt harm us in the near or far future.Dr Loic Brotons,Oscar Wendel, Moojan Asghari and Margaux Frisque (from left to right).

11:00 am: The next keynote speech revolved around smart contracts, a key-building tool in the decentralized and blockchain space. The speech delivered by Stellar Development Foundation VP Tomer Weller touched upon the subject of smart contract development and how difficult and complex it is. He said:”Smart contracts are not easy and only as smart as the coders that build them and we need to hold them to a higher standard.”Tomer Weller talking about the state of smart contracts in today’s world

10:30 am: The next keynote speech came fromAlexandre Dreyfus, founder and CEO of Chiliz, on the integration of blockchain and gaming tokens in mainstream sports. He shared how decentralized tech added to mainstream sports is making the experience for fans more immersive.Alexandre Dreyfus talking about the evolution of fan experience with Web3

10:00 am: The first panel of the day, titled ‘The Need for Yield,’ was moderated byCinderella Amar, co-founder ofGlass Slipper Ventures and joined by Maxime Boonen, founder of B2C2 & PV01, Tim Grant, head of EMEA at Galaxy, Yoann Caujolle, co-founder of Rockby, and Charlie Meraud CEO of Woorton.

The panel discussion revolved around the concept of yield farming in crypto and how it has evolved over time. The panelists shed light on the legality and regulatory aspect of yield farming in today’s time and how viable of a business model it is.Tim Grant,Maxime Boonen,Yoann Caujolle,Charlie Meraud, and Cinderella Amar (from left to right).

9:30 am: The first keynote speech of the day came fromJeff Hasselman, the head of Web3 at Amazon Web Services (AWS).Hasselman, while talking about the interest of enterprises like Amazon in the Web3 ecosystem, said that he was highly influenced by the Bitcoin white paper. He explained:”I read the Bitcoin whitepaper in 2013 and I was like if this works, then this would really be amazing because it would redefine what the internet is all about.”

Hasselman went on to list how AWS is actively involved in helping builders of Web3 and offering the infrastructure to companies and blockchain developers alike.Jeff Hasselman, Global Head Web3, Amazon Web Services talking about Web3

8:30 am: Welcome to day 2 of the Paris Blockchain Week Summit, a day that will be focused on the culture, adoption and importance of decentralized tech. Some of the notable panel discussions to look forward to will cover the ethics in Web3, the evolution of crypto payments, how to protect users from crypto scams. The Cointelegraph team is on the ground to bring the latest updates, exclusive interviews and behind the scenes throughout the day.Paris Blockchain Week venue shot. Source: CointelegraphCointelegraphs Joe Hall looks for perspective amid Paris riots

Reporter Joe Hall spoke to Animoca Brands CEO Robby Yung to hear his thoughts on Paris hosting a major crypto and blockchain conference as many have taken to the streets in protest of a bill raising Frances retirement age from 62 to 64 years old. According to Yung, the local government had provided a warm embrace for participants of the event and saw the representation of major brands including Gucci as a positive sign for adoption. Read more here.Animoca Brands CEO Robby Yung speaking with Cointelegraphs Joe Hall at Paris Blockchain Week. Source: CointelegraphParis Blockchain Week Summit2023: Day 1

4:40 pm: Ledger CEO Pascal Gauthier delivered a keynote speech during which he discussed Bitcoin:You can try to explain why you think it has flaws, but you should always have reasonable doubts. Its just like if you dont believe in God, thats OK. But you should always have reasonable doubt because the day you die, you will find out.”Ledger CEO Pascal Gauthier delivered a keynote speech on the Master Stage at PBW. Source: Cointelegraph

13:40 pm: 2022 was the year of epic crypto collapses, with the collective failures of Terra, Celsius, Three Arrows Capital and FTX leaving a stain on the industry. A panel as a part of the Open Finance stream discussed how the crypto industry can recover from these events in light of the recent banking failures in the United States. Read more here.A panel discussion titled FTX, Luna, Celsius, 3AC: From Hero to Zero at Paris Blockchain Week. Source: Livestream

12:40 pm: Metaverse regulation was on the agenda during an industry panel that included representatives from IBM Consulting France, Jacob Avocats, France Meta, Crypto Circle, Metacircle and Fenwick. The general takeaway from thepanel was that businesses need to take calculated, strategic risks to grow their Web3 ambitions. Get comfortable with discomfort, one panelist said. Read more here.Paris Blockchain Week venue. Source: Cointelegraph

12:00 pm: Tether chief technology officer Paolo Ardoino talked about the recent USDC saga and stated that Bitcoin is the ultimate way to hold wealth in an exclusive conversation with Cointelegraphs Joseph Hall.

While discussing the USDC depeg, Ardoino said that stablecoin issuers should always make sure that their reserves remain protected.Read more here.Cointelegraph journalist Joseph Hall with Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino at Paris Blockchain Week.

11:00 am: Bitcoin proponent Tim Draper was the next keynote speaker, discussing The Decentralization of Everything. Draper talked about the need for decentralization in todays time amid lessening confidence in the banking system. He advised people to use Bitcoin to hedge against bad governance and banking.Tim Draper advocated for Bitcoin against bad governance and banking failures.

Draper also sang a poem about Bitcoin and how the asset has outperformed traditional financial tools amid the growing banking crisis.Read more here.

10:00 am: The first round of panel discussions kicked off, with Cointelegraph editor-in-chiefKristina Lucrezia Cornr moderating a discussion on the evolving role of Web3 technology in the traditional financial ecosystem.Cointelegraph editor-in-chiefKristina Lucrezia Cornrmoderating a panel on Web3.

The panel, titled State of the Chain 2023, was joined byPatrick McGregor, head of product at Coinbase; Matthew Savarese, vice president at Nasdaq Digital Assets; Richard Widmann, global head of Web3 strategy at Google; Dante Disparte, head of global policy at Circle; and Denelle Dixon, CEO of Stellar Development Foundation.

Live from the State of the Chain 2023 panel at @ParisBlockWeek : @RichJWidmann, Global Head of Web3 Strategy at @googlecloud, emphasizes the importance of building value for users in the next evolution of the internet. #PBW2023 pic.twitter.com/8x1hAgJTZG— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) March 22, 2023

The discussion focused on the state of traditional finance, the recent banking crisis and how Web3-based solutions are becoming a norm during times of financial crisis something envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto themselves when they created Bitcoin.

In addition to reflecting on the current state of Web3, the experts gave their insights and predictions on how things could pan out in 2023.Read more here.Patrick McGregor, Matthew Savarese, Richard Widmann, Dante Disparte, Denelle Dixon and Kristina Lucrezia Cornr (from left to right).

Another panel discussion around the European Unions Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, set to come into effect by 2024, saw industry experts weigh in on its impact. The panel was moderated bySabine Van Haecke-Lepic, a lecturer and researcher at Sciences Po, and joined by the likes of Gundars Ostrovskis, team leader of digital finance at the European Commission; Nadia Filali, director of blockchain programs at Caisse des Dpts; Hubert de Vauplane, partner at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP; Janet Ho, head of EU policy at Chainalysis; and Vytautas Karalevicius, co-founder of Bankera.Gundars Ostrovskis, Sabine Van Haecke-Lepic, Vytautas Karalevicius,Nadia Filali, Hubert de Vauplane and Janet Ho (from left to right).

The industry experts and regulators opined on the implications and potential impacts of the proposed regulation.Read more here.

9:30 am: The following keynote speech was delivered by the CEO of Stellar Development Foundation, Denelle Dixon. She talked about the real-world use cases of blockchain technology, focusing on humanitarian aid. Dixon stressed that blockchain tech can bring efficiency to aid distribution, especially when those who need it the most are unbanked.Stellar Development Foundation CEO Denelle Dixon talking about role of blockchain in humanitarianaid.

9:00 am: The opening keynote of the event came from Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, who talked about the importance of decentralized networks in traditional finance. Lubin highlighted the diversity in the Web3 space and how it has helped the ecosystem grow stronger with a broad spectrum of talent.Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin during his opening keynote speech.

8:30 am: The next keynote speech came from Henri Arslanian, co-founder of the investment banking company Nine Blocks Capital Management, and revolved around the latest global crypto trends including Bitcoin, central bank digital currencies and nonfungible tokens.

Arslanian shed light on some of the past years key events in the crypto world, from the growth of Bitcoin to the numerous crypto contagions and recent bank runs. He stressed that there will be more stress on regulations and transparency moving forward.Henri Arslanian talking about global crypto trends.

8:00 am: The first day of the summit kicked off with a keynote from Zahreddine Touag, co-founder of Paris Blockchain Week. During his keynote, he stressed the need for events like PBW and its role in building business relationships and connecting to new people.Paris Blockchain Week Summit started with a keynote by Zahreddine Touag.Investor panel: What are the best investment opportunities in Web3?

In the next panel discussion, which focused on investment opportunities in Web3, investor Marguerite de Tavernost said that the bear market is the best time to build in the crypto market. She added that they offer more time for investors and innovators to build their reputations.Ivan de Lastours de Bernarde, Katelin Holloway, Marguerite de Tavernost, Michael Amar, Andrei Brasoveanu and Richard Muirhead(from left to right)Fabric Ventures co-founder talks Bitcoin, bank crisis

Richard Muirhead, the co-founder of Fabric Ventures, talked about Bitcoin price, inflation, the bank crisis and the emerging role of Web3 amid it all. He said that with its deflationary properties, Bitcoin is the first use case of Web3 and can become a safe haven during times of crisis. He added that Web3 is actively working on resolving traditional financial problems, but new use cases can take time to emerge, as they represent much more than simple software development.In-depth discussion on metaverse gaming

Neal Stephenson, an American author and founder of metaverse project Lamina1, joined Paris Blockchain Week chairman Michael Amar to discuss the concept of interoperability in metaverse gaming.

Stephenson, who coined the term metaverse in the 1990s, also talked with Cointelegraph editor-in-chief Kristina Lucrezia Cornr on the evolution of the word. Read more here. Neal Stephenson and Michael Amar (from left to right).

Stephenson said the idea of interoperability is irritating for some game developers, as many have been focused on building their own ecosystems for years, such as Fortnite and Minecraft. He explained that the idea of interoperability seems like an abomination because, at this point, all it offers is dragging and dropping assets from one game to another.Cointelegraph behind-the-scenes on day two

The Cointelegraph team kicked off the second day of Paris Blockchain Week 2023 with a reflection on the cultural and historical depth of the venue:

Things at @ParisBlockWeek that just make sense #PBW2023 pic.twitter.com/Sd8P6TxHJs— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) March 21, 2023 Web3 headlines the agenda on day one of the summit

The main agenda for March 21 revolves around the scope of Web3 in todays world. The one-day Web3XP event focuses on how brands and creators can generate value in the metaverse and how Web2 companies can transition to Web3.The event will see professionals representing consumer brands, gaming, collectibles, art and fashion in one place.March 20 saw a relatively crowded talent fair tailored for the crypto and blockchain industry. Source: CointelegraphCointelegraph reporter Joe Hall attends pre-summit events

The pre-summit events at the PBW 2023 included a talent fair.The Cointelegraph team making sure you get the best angle.Th Cointelegraph team arrives in Paris

Cointelegraph editor-in-chief Kristina Lucrezia Cornr, head of video Jackson DuMont and reporter Joseph Hall are deployed on the ground in Paris all week to deliver the most recent developments from the conference.Jackson DuMont, Kristina Lucrezia Cornr and Joseph Hall(from left to right). Source: CointelegraphInvestors Day

Investors Day kicked the week off on March 20, bringing together investors interested in Web3, nonfungible tokens (NFTs), the metaverse and blockchain applications.

Stay tuned for continuous updates from PWB, including key takeaways, highlights and behind-the-scenes footage.Paris Blockchain Week kicks off

The 2023 edition of PBW features speakers from some of the industrys biggest players, such as ConsenSys, Ledger, Animoca Brands, Algorand, Reddit and more. It consists of the main summit and the Web3-focused Web3XP, and its main themes include public policy, enterprise blockchain, open finance, Web3 art, and investing in Web3 culture and entertainment, among others.

PBW also has a dedicated event for investors, a competition for startups, a hackathon and additional side events.

Last years event saw around 3,000 summit-goers and featured keynotes and fireside chats from some of the most prominent figures in the industry, such as Binances Changpeng Zhao and Tethers Paolo Ardoino, among many others. #Blockchain #France #Event #Paris #Metaverse #Web3 #NFT

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Add reaction Related News 17 biggest crypto heists of all time Blockchain messaging is going to replace Telegram and Discord AAA blockchain gaming: The future of entertainment in the Web3 space AMA with Undeads Web3 a hot topic at SXSW despite bear market and declining interest in NFTs Neal Stephenson on the metaverse: Its happening in a different way

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UK

King leads nation in two-minute silence during Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph

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King leads nation in two-minute silence during Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph

The King has led the nation in a two-minute silence during a Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.

He was joined by other members of the Royal Family and senior politicians, who laid wreaths to the fallen.

The Queen and the Princess of Wales took their places on Foreign Office balconies overlooking Whitehall.

The Duke of Kent and the Duchess of Edinburgh were also on the balconies, along with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

King Charles. Pic: PA
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King Charles. Pic: PA

The Prince of Wales. Pic: PA
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The Prince of Wales. Pic: PA

Three D-Day veterans were among those attending the ceremony.

In total, about 20 veterans who served in the Second World War were there, receiving applause as they took their positions close to the Cenotaph.

About a dozen people wearing military uniforms and poppies were pushed in wheelchairs.

The Princess of Wales. Pic: Reuters
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The Princess of Wales. Pic: Reuters

Queen Camilla. Pic: Reuters
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Queen Camilla. Pic: Reuters

Henry Rice, a former signalman who arrived off Juno Beach five days after D-Day, and Mervyn Kersh who arrived in Normandy aged 19, three days after the start of the D-Day invasion, were there.

Sid Machin, one of six 101-year-olds registered to march was also present and is one of the last surviving “Chindit” soldiers from the Second World War Burma campaign.

As a young man of about 19, Mr Machin landed behind enemy lines in a glider at night in the jungle, as part of a special forces unit in Burma (now Myanmar), which wreaked havoc on Japanese supply lines and infrastructure.

Veterans on Whitehall. Pic: PA
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Veterans on Whitehall. Pic: PA

The Prince of Wales lays a wreath. Pic: PA
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The Prince of Wales lays a wreath. Pic: PA

The veterans' parade. Pic: Reuters
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The veterans’ parade. Pic: Reuters

Donald Poole, 101, was a Royal Army Ordnance Corps technician who handled defective explosives or enemy ammunition.

He was serving in India in 1945 when the surrender of Japan was announced.

“It is a great honour to be able to pay tribute to the poor souls who have died in all conflicts and I know how lucky I am to still be here thanks to all those who have fought and served, past and present,” he said.

“I also want to pay tribute to the civilian services who suffered during the Second World War, particularly the fire service, who saved so many lives during the Blitz – many of whom lost their own.”

An estimated 10,000 armed forces veterans are taking part in the Royal British Legion’s marchpast.

Members of the Royal Navy. Pic: PA
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Members of the Royal Navy. Pic: PA

The Band of the Royal Marines. Pic: PA
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The Band of the Royal Marines. Pic: PA

Former prime ministers Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson. Pic: Reuters
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Former prime ministers Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson. Pic: Reuters

Sir Ed Davey, Kemi Badenoch and Sir Keir Starmer. Pic: PA
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Sir Ed Davey, Kemi Badenoch and Sir Keir Starmer. Pic: PA

John Swinney, the first minister of Scotland, lays a wreath. Pic: PA
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John Swinney, the first minister of Scotland, lays a wreath. Pic: PA

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “This Remembrance Sunday, we pause as a nation to honour all those who have served our country.

“We reflect on the extraordinary courage of our Armed Forces in the world wars and subsequent conflicts, whose service secured the freedoms we cherish today.”

Reflecting on the 80th anniversary of WWII, Sir Keir spoke of “a generation who stood against tyranny and shaped our future”.

He added: “Such sacrifice deserves more than silence, which is why this government remains committed to supporting veterans, their families and those who serve.

“Today, we remember, and we renew our promise to uphold the values they fought for.”

The two-minute silence began at 11am on Sunday, with the march starting at 11.25am.

Thousands of people were expected to line Whitehall to pay tribute.

Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said: “From the Cenotaph in London to memorials in towns and villages across the United Kingdom, and wherever our Armed Forces serve around the world, we pause to remember their courage, their sacrifice and their enduring legacy.

“We shall remember them.”

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King attends Festival of Remembrance

Last night, Sir Keir joined members of the Royal Family at the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance.

Sir Rod Stewart, Sam Ryder and Keala Settle were on the bill – along with performances by the Central Band of the RAF, the RAF Squadronaires and the Band of HM Royal Marines – during the event at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham hosted the festival and sang We’ll Meet Again – telling the audience of the courage of her granddad, who is a veteran.

Harry Waddingham is 109 years old, and one of the oldest living men in the United Kingdom.

The Princess of Wales was seen wearing a black dress adorned with a handmade poppy created out of silk, glass and other natural materials, along with earrings belonging to the late Queen.

The Prince of Wales was absent as he travelled back from Brazil where he attended the COP30 climate summit.

Prince George attended for the first time – and watched intently as emotional videos of veterans speaking about their experiences were played.

The King was announced as a patron of the Royal British Legion last year.

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China and NASA Coordinate to Avoid Satellite Collision for the First Time

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China’s CNSA made history by alerting NASA to a possible satellite collision—marking the first instance of Beijing warning Washington in orbit. With Earth’s orbits growing crowded from megaconstellations like Starlink and Guowang, the event signals a new phase of cooperation in global space traffic control and shared responsibility for orbital safety.

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Politics

Regulators must catch up to the new privacy paradigm

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Regulators must catch up to the new privacy paradigm

Opinion by: Agata Ferreira, assistant professor at the Warsaw University of Technology

A new consensus is forming across the Web3 world. For years, privacy was treated as a compliance problem, liability for developers and at best, a niche concern. Now it is becoming clear that privacy is actually what digital freedom is built on. 

The Ethereum Foundation’s announcement of the Privacy Cluster — a cross-team effort focused on private reads and writes, confidential identities and zero-knowledge proofs — is a sign of a philosophical redefinition of what trust, consensus and truth mean in the digital age and a more profound realization that privacy must be built into infrastructure.

Regulators should pay attention. Privacy-preserving designs are no longer just experimental; they are now a standard approach. They are becoming the way forward for decentralized systems. The question is whether law and regulation will adopt this shift or remain stuck in an outdated logic that equates visibility with safety.

From shared observation to shared verification

For a long time, digital governance has been built on a logic of visibility. Systems were trustworthy because they could be observed by regulators, auditors or the public. This “shared observation” model is behind everything from financial reporting to blockchain explorers. Transparency was the means of ensuring integrity.

In cryptographic systems, however, a more powerful paradigm is emerging: shared verification. Instead of every actor seeing everything, zero-knowledge proofs and privacy-preserving designs enable verifying that a rule was followed without revealing the underlying data. Truth becomes something you can prove, not something you must expose.

This shift might seem technical, but it has profound consequences. It means we no longer need to pick between privacy and accountability. Both can coexist, embedded directly into the systems we rely on. Regulators, too, must adapt to this logic rather than battle against it.

Privacy as infrastructure

The industry is realizing the same thing: Privacy is not a niche. It’s infrastructure. Without it, the Web3 openness becomes its weakness, and transparency collapses into surveillance.

Emerging architectures across ecosystems demonstrate that privacy and modularity are finally converging. Ethereum’s Privacy Cluster focuses on confidential computation and selective disclosure at the smart-contract level. 

Others are going deeper, integrating privacy into the network consensus itself: sender-unlinkable messaging, validator anonymity, private proof-of-stake and self-healing data persistence. These designs are rebuilding the digital stack from the ground up, aligning privacy, verifiability and decentralization as mutually reinforcing properties.

This is not an incremental improvement. It is a new way of thinking about freedom in the digital network age.

Policy is lagging behind the technology

Current regulatory approaches still reflect the logic of shared observation. Privacy-preserving technologies are scrutinized or restricted, while visibility is mistaken for safety and compliance. Developers of privacy protocols face regulatory pressure, and policymakers continue to think that encryption is an obstacle to observability.

This perspective is outdated and dangerous. In a world where everyone is being watched, and where data is harvested on an unprecedented scale, bought, sold, leaked and exploited, the absence of privacy is the actual systemic risk. It undermines trust, puts people at risk and makes democracies weaker. By contrast, privacy-preserving designs make integrity provable and enable accountability without exposure. 

Lawmakers must begin to view privacy as an ally, not an adversary — a tool for enforcing fundamental rights and restoring confidence in digital environments.

Stewardship, not just scrutiny

The next phase of digital regulation must move from scrutiny to support. Legal and policy frameworks should protect privacy-preserving open source systems as critical public goods. Stewardship stance is a duty, not a policy choice.

Related: Compliance isn’t supposed to cost you your privacy

It means providing legal clarity for developers and distinguishing between acts and architecture. Laws should punish misconduct, not the existence of technologies that enable privacy. The right to maintain private digital communication, association and economic exchange must be treated as a fundamental right, enforced by both law and infrastructure.

Such an approach would demonstrate regulatory maturity, recognizing that resilient democracies and legitimate governance rely on privacy-preserving infrastructure.

The architecture of freedom

The Ethereum Foundation’s privacy initiative and other new privacy-first network designs share the idea that freedom in the digital age is an architectural principle. It cannot depend solely on promises of good governance or oversight; it must be built into protocols that shape our lives.

These new systems, private rollups, state-separated architectures and sovereign zones represent the practical synthesis of privacy and modularity. They enable communities to build independently while remaining verifiably connected, thereby combining autonomy with accountability.

Policymakers should view this as an opportunity to support the direct embedding of fundamental rights into the technical foundation of the internet. Privacy-by-design should be embraced as legality-by-design, a way to enforce fundamental rights through code, not just through constitutions, charters and conventions.

The blockchain industry is redefining what “consensus” and “truth” mean, replacing shared observation with shared verification, visibility with verifiability, and surveillance with sovereignty. As this new dawn for privacy takes shape, regulators face a choice: Limit it under the old frameworks of control, or support it as the foundation of digital freedom and a more resilient digital order.

The tech is getting ready. The laws need to catch up.

Opinion by: Agata Ferreira, assistant professor at the Warsaw University of Technology.

This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.