Lessons on Cash Concealment in a Digital Surveillance Society… How Bitcoin(BTC)Revived the Spirit of Privacy

Source: TokenPost Original Title: Lessons from a Society of Digital Surveillance and the Revival of Privacy with Bitcoin(BTC): The Spirit of Privacy Resurrected Original Link: In an era where surveillance has become everyday, hidden cash from the deceased reminds us of the value of privacy and asset control. Blockchain-based asset Bitcoin(BTC) is a spiritual successor aiming to restore such personal freedoms.

Once considered an overly cautious old-fashioned stubbornness, I now deeply understand the reason over time. Before passing away, my grandfather said, “I don’t trust banks,” and that no one should know where his money is. At the time, I dismissed it as excessive distrust and laughed it off, but I only later realized the weight of his words.

One sunset day, while tidying up my grandfather’s house, we found a small door hidden behind the wall. Moving aside an old sofa that had been in place for decades revealed an entrance. Inside, there were old wrapping papers, a rat-chewed game board, and miscellaneous documents. But the real treasure was a bundle of cash in a brown envelope next to it. Discovered in an unknown ‘family hiding place,’ this money was both a gift my grandfather prepared for my graduate school tuition and his way of protecting his privacy and assets.

He spoke as if leaving a will. Search thoroughly through the house’s books, wardrobe, and under the bed. True to his words, we found each item, and indeed, a significant amount of money was stored in old currency forms that hadn’t circulated for a long time. Of course, inflation had halved its value, and some bills were no longer usable, but all of this reminded us once again of the weaknesses of legal tender and the essence of control.

My grandfather spent his childhood in London during World War II in poverty. In a time when a single penny could determine survival, he naturally developed distrust and caution toward currency. It was not just about hiding money but also a form of resistance to protect his ‘private domain.’ In his era, privacy was a fundamental right, and being asked for personal information or being surveilled was naturally suspicious.

In London, 1950, driver Harry Wilcock was arrested for refusing to show his ID to police. The ID system introduced during WWII was being abused, and eventually, it was abolished by public opinion and court rulings. In an era when surveillance systems were inefficient, most records were unorganized and unconnected. Lawyers refer to that period as ‘practical obscurity(practical obscurity).’

But now, it’s different. Our digital data is never free from scrutiny. Conversations, payments, locations, search histories—everything is constantly collected and pieced together. Surveillance has become the ‘default,’ and we are unknowingly sacrificing our privacy.

My grandfather instinctively guarded against this future. He was a silent cypherpunk ahead of his time, and today, his values are gradually being forgotten. Amid the sweeping tide of the end of privacy, the question of ‘how I will protect my money’ becomes urgent. Although he didn’t know Bitcoin(BTC) or blockchain, he already understood the philosophy behind them.

Market Interpretation

Historical cases of individual privacy protection and the current strengthening of surveillance systems in the digital financial era highlight the necessity of decentralized assets like Bitcoin(BTC). The importance of assets controlled by individuals is growing over censurable credit systems.

Strategic Points

It’s time to consider not just immediately moving assets into cryptocurrencies but also thinking about the location and control of assets. Blockchain technology is not just for speculation but also a means of privacy and freedom.

Terminology

• Cypherpunk(Cypherpunk): A movement of technologists advocating strong privacy and cryptography
• Practical Obscurity: A legal concept where information exists but is difficult to access or cross-verify. It no longer applies in the digital age.