The encrypted messaging application Signal is at the center of a major push to integrate Bitcoin payments, an effort championed by long-time <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/bitcoin-retail-interest-lags-market-sentiment-flips-to-extreme-fear/">Bitcoin</a> advocate and tech luminary Jack Dorsey. The campaign, dubbed "Bitcoin for Signal," aims to introduce private, censorship-resistant transactions to the app’s approximately 70 million monthly users, fully aligning with Signal's core philosophy of independence and user privacy.
<h2>A Shift to Private Bitcoin Payments</h2>
[embed]https://twitter.com/jack/status/1978862368797893063[/embed]

The initiative, spearheaded by pseudonymous Bitcoin developer Cashu, proposes leveraging Bitcoin’s Chaumian Ecash technology via the Cashu protocol to facilitate private peer-to-peer payments. Dorsey publicly "stating that Signal should adopt Bitcoin" by endorsing the campaign on X, reinforcing his vision for the cryptocurrency to move past its status as merely a store of value and become a practical tool for everyday transactions. Proponents argue this integration would naturally extend the app’s mission to provide a truly independent communication platform.
<h2>Rejection of Centralized Alternatives</h2>
The drive toward Bitcoin is also a direct critique of Signal’s existing payment feature, MobileCoin (MOB), which was integrated in 2021. Prominent Bitcoin developer Peter Todd dismissed MobileCoin, calling it a "failure" due to concerns over its centralization and limited user accessibility. The new campaign seeks to replace this system with a more decentralized, privacy-focused alternative, despite the fact that Bitcoin’s public ledger raises some skepticism from critics about maintaining perfect anonymity.
<h3>Privacy Debate and Regulatory Context</h3>
While the Cashu protocol is designed to provide a crucial layer of privacy for Bitcoin transactions, some critics remain cautious, questioning if the transparent nature of Bitcoin’s blockchain can meet Signal’s stringent privacy standards. This internal debate is unfolding against a backdrop of global regulatory tension over digital privacy. This includes the controversial "Chat Control" law in Europe, which would require encrypted platforms like Signal to scan private messages, highlighting the urgent need for censorship-resistant communication and financial tools.

Tech Titans Push Bitcoin for Signal: Dorsey Backs Private Payment Campaign

Jack Dorsey and other crypto advocates are pushing Signal to integrate private Bitcoin payments via Cashu, challenging its existing MobileCoin feature.

Tech Titans Push Bitcoin for Signal: Dorsey Backs Private Payment Campaign

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