Do you want a compelling use for blockchain for privacy? Look no further than dating

The excitement around Web3 is palpable – and undeniable. Projects are flooding into space to build groundbreaking versions of websites and apps served by centralized Web2 rivals, covering every conceivable sector.

But at this point, it’s worth taking a step back and reflecting on the challenges that the Web3 world still has to deal with. This technology is not inherently private – and the transactions that bounce around on blockchains are largely transparent.

Privacy coins, and the anonymizing blockchains they are usually based on, are usually viewed with suspicion by critics. They point out how cryptocurrencies like Monero are increasingly in demand by ransomware attackers, and claim that these digital assets only have a use case for people who are not well.

However, this does not tell the whole story. It’s easy to forget that we already have privacy coins in the fiat world – that is, the banknotes in our pockets. If you give $ 10 to a friend, it’s impossible for authorities to track. Some crypto enthusiasts fear that the transition to digitalisation risks undermining the rights we have taken for granted over decades.

A consumer who demands anonymity does not necessarily do anything illegal – and for a potent example of why privacy must be protected in Web3, let’s turn our attention to the world of online dating.

Love and crypto

It’s inevitable that entrepreneurs will try to build a decentralized response to Tinder and Grindr – yes, tongues wagged when the Lonely Ape Dating Club was proposed … despite the fact that it turned out to be a joke.

If it turned out to be genuine, there would be some major issues to address. There are very real dangers associated with doxxing your ETH address to strangers on a niche dating app in a largely unregulated industry. And that is before we have considered how this would be mixed with other attributes such as NFT profile pictures, Twitter handles and selfies.

You could argue that the Ethereum blockchain is not built for such an infrastructure – and that a completely different network is required to launch a dating app that mixes the benefits of Web3 with the protection users deserve. This will help eliminate incidents where people using these tools have seen their identities and locations exposed, and address the privacy issues surrounding phone numbers and social media.

It can also help curb the romantic scams that have become endemic on dating sites – with scammers creating fake profiles and tricking unsuspecting victims who are looking for love, and often stealing their hearts and their savings.

Privacy first, use cases later

Perhaps the best approach to take is to establish a privacy-focused blockchain first – to create a safe environment where singletons can communicate.

Such a network should have a secure, private place where potential partners can send messages to each other – and ideally, the decentralized app should not require a phone number to register. This can help reduce the risk of cyber stalking and harassment.

It will also offer a compelling alternative to social media messaging. While many large centralized platforms offer privacy settings, they can be difficult to find and activate. And without them, the people you come in contact with on dating sites can end up seeing the content you post, who your friends and family are and your movements – all without your consent.

Session is an open source, encrypted messenger operated by the Oxen blockchain. It’s free and offers all the features we’ve just talked about: a private one-to-one chat platform and group chatting where phone numbers are not required. And it is a tool designed for everyday users – which means that it will be easy to pick up for those who are perhaps more familiar with such as Signal and Telegram.

Oxen’s chief technology officer Kee Jefferys told Cointelegraph: “The way the internet works is not good for users’ privacy. Social media has changed the way we share information about ourselves. But this is a problem that crypto has the potential to solve – and Session is a shining example. “

Session aims to tackle the pitfalls of websites and decentralized applications – and protects a user’s metadata by routing messages via the Oxen Service Node network, which boasts over 1600 decentralized nodes. This significantly eliminates the need for centralized servers, and ensures that it is not a single point of error.

Think about the last time you changed your phone number – it was probably years ago. The social media profiles you use probably come from when you were a teenager as well. This is understandable; Not only is it difficult to add your loved ones again, but your account will have a rich history with messages and photos that you will not lose.

Session says it gives singletons a compelling alternative – now they can give a love interest their session ID instead of a phone number or social media account, and keep that personal information private until they want to move on to the next step. This can prevent potential abuse from failed or even over-enthusiastic suites.

It is just a utility case that shows how privacy can be a strength in the hands of law-abiding citizens.