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Influential Cypherpunk Passes Away At Age 67

Those who truly understand cryptocurrency history know that the cryptocurrency world owes a lot to the cypherpunk movement, a technologist movement that advocated for privacy and cryptography throughout the 1980s and 1990s in order to redefine the way that human beings, organizations, and institutions interact with each other.

There are three individuals that are widely considered “godfathers” of this movement: Timothy May, Eric Hughes, and John Gilmore. Unfortunately, one of the founders of this movement, Timothy May, has passed away at the age of 67.

The Crypto Manifesto

Timothy May is most famous as the author of The Crypto Manifesto, which many have praised as incredibly ahead of its time, in that it describes how technology would eventually transform the world as we know it, and the way that human beings interact with each other.

Specifically, May stated, in The Crypto Manifesto: “Computer technology is on the verge of providing the ability for individuals and groups to communicate and interact with each other in a totally anonymous manner. Two persons may exchange messages, conduct business, and negotiate electronic contracts without ever knowing the True Name, or legal identity, of the other. Interactions over networks will be untraceable, via extensive re- routing of encrypted packets and tamper-proof boxes which implement cryptographic protocols with nearly perfect assurance against any tampering.

He continued: “Reputations will be of central importance, far more important in dealings than even the credit ratings of today. These developments will alter completely the nature of government regulation, the ability to tax and control economic interactions, the ability to keep information secret, and will even alter the nature of trust and reputation.”

Many have pointed out that, in this manner, Mr. May essentially predicted the rise of Bitcoin.

Praises and Condolences

Influential cryptocurrency figures were quick to offer their condolences for May, given the fact that he is considered a forefather for the cryptocurrency world as we know it. For example, Vitalik Buterin, one of the most respected individuals in the sector, and the co-founder of Ethereum, took to Twitter to offer his condolences:

Nick Szabo, a well-known computer scientist and cryptographer who some believe is actually the real Satoshi Nakomoto – the creator of Bitcoin – also offered his condolences. He stated that May was his “chief cypherpunk inspiration”, and that his vision was “of a cyberspace free from government oppression.” He ended the tweet by stating that May will be missed greatly.

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Bail Bloc Is Mining Monero (XMR) For ICE Detainees

It appears as though Bail Bloc is turning its attention to detainees of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). For those who are unaware, Bail Bloc is a cryptocurrency initiative where users install an app, and a small portion of computers’ processing power is used to mine Monero – which is widely considered the most private and untraceable cryptocurrency in the world. Every month, the Monero is converted into dollars and then donated to various bail funds in the National Bail Fund Network.

This month, the Monero (XMR) is going to the Immigrant Bail Fund, to post bail for ICE detainees. Bail Bloc’s website points out that only 47% of immigrants are even given a bond hearing, and that 1 in 5 detainees are still in ICE detention because they cannot afford to pay their bond. In addition, the vast majority of detainees – 97% – who are detained without representation eventually get deported, and only 14% have representation.

Public Outrage

ICE’s methods have come under scrutiny as of recent, as many believe that they are using underhanded tactics in order to detain immigrants. A mother recently filed a legal claim against the U.S. government regarding the death of her 20-month old child who passed away while being detained by ICE.

One particular aspect of immigration detention that has infuriated the American public is the fact that many children – even toddlers –  have been forced to represent themselves in court. This was covered/parodied by John Oliver, who helped the story go viral months ago when the issue was being picked up by various media outlets:

Ultimate Goal

The methods have gotten so extreme that the public has called on the abolishment of ICE, which was created in 2003, as part of post 9-11 legislation. The agency works under the Department of Homeland Security, and marked a shift in public sentiment where immigrants were seen as a threat. Trump has even referred to immigrants as “animals” before, which has helped to frame the narrative that ICE has to deport as many individuals as possible, even if they have lived in the United States for years.

Bail Bloc is not shy about the fact that they believe that the entire agency should be abolished, a sentiment which has been echoed by prominent politicians such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. Specifically, the website states: “With enough downloads over time, the compounding revenue generated from Bail Bloc has the potential to help secure the release of thousands of immigrants from ICE detention. The project of abolition extends to all forms of detention: abolish cash bail, abolish prisons, abolish ICE, abolish the militarized border.” The website adds: “Additionally, between November 15 and December 15, 2018, The New Inquiry will match in dollars the amount of Monero mined by users.”