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What the Cypherpunks Saw Coming

The cypherpunks knew that privacy had to be built, not granted. Venice is now carrying this torch for AI.
What the Cypherpunks Saw Coming
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What the Cypherpunks Saw Coming
Published on May 23, 2026

Happy Saturday everyone,
In today's issue, David makes a cypherpunk case for Venice, the rising private AI inference platform built on Base. Not strictly Ethereum, sure, but the value here can expand and inspire in all directions.

Plus, David and Ryan talk through the new era of Bankless (and more) in the latest Rollup episode. Catch up on everything below.

Thanks for reading,
WMP

p.s. Starting next week, Ethereum Ethereum Weekly will be folding into the Bankless Daily newsletter, where our ETH coverage will continue as part of an everyday send!


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OPINION
Venice AI Is Applied Cypherpunk
Bankless Author: David Hoffman

"Privacy is necessary for an open society in the electronic age."

"For privacy to be widespread it must be part of a social contract."

"Cypherpunks are actively engaged in making the networks safer for privacy. Let us proceed together apace."

A Cypherpunk's Manifesto, Eric Hughes, 9 March 1993


Dear Bankless Nation,

Privacy is in! 

There’s a section in Grayscale’s research report on Zcash that has been ringing in my head: 

"Technological and social change can put pressure on privacy systems, often triggering public debate about financial privacy and new methods to protect it. In the 1970s, the digitization of financial records and the Bank Secrecy Act brought more attention to financial privacy. Similarly, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the expansion of the internet and online banking, along with the Patriot Act, led to another wave of focus on financial privacy — and eventually broader use of encryption, 2FA, and related tools."

The existence of privacy in society is perpetually at risk, due the simple reality that privacy is rarely the default mode of operation. Privacy is always extra, technically speaking. 

If privacy is opt-in, the act of choosing it becomes information. Simply using privacy paints a target on your back — you've self-identified as someone with something to hide.

The cypherpunks saw this early: a single envelope in a world of postcards is suspicious, but a world of envelopes is just mail...


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.  .  .
WEEKLY ROLLUP
To New Beginnings

David sold his ETH, the EF is losing talent, and Hyperliquid just hit a new all-time high. What gives?

Ryan and David break down the stagflation fears building in the bond market, why pockets of the crypto like HYPE, Zcash, and Venice are breaking out, what the EF talent exodus actually signals, and what a new era for Bankless looks like.

Tune into this week’s Rollup! 👇


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No es asesoramiento financiero ni fiscal. El contenido de Bankless es estrictamente educativo y no constituye asesoramiento de inversión ni una solicitud para comprar o vender activos ni para tomar decisiones financieras. Este boletín no es asesoría fiscal. Consulta a tu contador. Investiga por tu cuenta.

Divulgación. De vez en cuando podemos incluir enlaces en este boletín a productos que usamos. Podemos recibir comisión si realizas una compra a través de uno de estos enlaces. Además, el equipo de Bankless posee criptoactivos. Consulta nuestras divulgaciones aquí.

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