Coinbase Acquires Neutrino to Surveil Distributed Ledgers, Sparking Privacy Concerns

Allegedly, the Neutrino team will monitor various blockchains to prevent illegal or unethical activity. However, surveillance also means that users of Bitcoin (BTC) and many other coins may soon be subject to constant surveillance on Coinbase.

It Gets Worse

On Feb 26, 2019, Breakermag published an article in which it alleged that many Neutrino executives were also part of Hacking Team, an IT company that has provided spyware and surveillance software to governments, corporations, law enforcement, and other entities. [bctt tweet=”The acquisition of Neutrino by Coinbase might lead to surveillance of all Coinbase users. ” username=”beincrypto”] Controversies regarding the privacy-violating capacities of Hacking Team software date back to at least 2011. It has often been criticized for offering services to authoritarian nations like Sudan and Venezuela. One of its most famous products is the Remote Control System, which monitors internet usage, voice conversations, and encrypted files in any device on which the system is installed.

Neutrino and Coinbase

Neutrino is a completely separate company from Hacking Team. However, its surveillance experience appears to live on. The Feb 19 press release from Coinbase announcing the acquisition of Neutrino reads:

By analyzing data on public blockchains, Neutrino will help us prevent theft of funds from peoples’ accounts, investigate ransomware attacks, and identify bad actors.

This may be true, but it opens up a dangerous can of worms. To find potential thieves, hackers, and other bad actors require analyzing the entire blockchain. It is possible that these systems will help to thwart criminal activity on Coinbase and the blockchains of its supported currencies,

I will not be sinking another dollar or satoshi into @coinbase. I’ve always defended them but not anymore.

— Richard Toddarrrrrr (@Richard_Toddar) February 27, 2019

Stopping bad actors by surveilling of the blockchain, however, means that every user will be monitored. Constant monitoring means that users on Coinbase can no longer assume anonymity or privacy when they send or receive cryptocurrency on the Coinbase exchange or wallet. Methods for increasing privacy while using Bitcoin are readily being introduced. Some have suggested the Lightning Network as a possible method for increasing anonymity. Others have suggested forsaking Coinbase and moving to other exchanges and wallets which do not surveil its users. What do you think of Coinbase’s decision to employ former Hacking Team members? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!