cypherpunks
Privacy-focused digital rebels
Cypherpunks are activists who advocate widespread use of strong cryptography and privacy-enhancing technologies as a route to social and political change.
The movement emerged in the early 1990s from a mailing list where participants discussed cryptographic tools, digital privacy, and resistance to government surveillance.
Cypherpunks developed or promoted technologies like PGP encryption, anonymous remailers, and later cryptocurrency: Bitcoin emerged from cypherpunk ideals.
The name blends cipher with cyberpunk, evoking both encryption and countercultural tech fiction.
Published statement of principles
- hacktivismPolitical protest via intrusion
- digital rightsOnline privacy legal protections
- internet freedomUnrestricted online access rights
- mailing listCompiled recipient addresses
Cryptographic linked transaction record
- BitcoinPeer-to-peer electronic cash
- cryptocurrencyEncrypted decentralized money
- TorAnonymous routing network
- smart contractsSelf-enforcing coded agreements
peer-to-peer · open source · digital cash · proof-of-work · cybersecurity · authentication
Unknown identity state
- pseudonymityState of using aliases
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
- data protectionSecuring sensitive information
- identity protectionMeasures preventing personal fraud
metadata · traffic analysis · plausible deniability · Tor · VPN · encrypted email · private browsing · cloaking
Converting data into code
- RSAPublic-key encryption algorithm
- AESSymmetric encryption standard
- digital signatureEncrypted verification of sender
- cryptanalysisStudy of breaking ciphers
hash · algorithm · steganography · symmetric · asymmetric · nonce · salt · end-to-end
Anti-statist political adherent
- anarchismPhilosophy rejecting state authority
- anti-authoritarianismOpposition to concentrated power
- decentralizationDistributing power from center
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
civil liberties · free speech · government transparency · whistleblowing · statelessness · resistance · dissent · digital freedom
manifesto
Published statement of principles
- hacktivismPolitical protest via intrusion
- digital rightsOnline privacy legal protections
- internet freedomUnrestricted online access rights
blockchain
Cryptographic linked transaction record
- BitcoinPeer-to-peer electronic cash
- cryptocurrencyEncrypted decentralized money
- TorAnonymous routing network
smart contracts · peer-to-peer · open source · digital cash · proof-of-work · cybersecurity · authentication
anonymity
Unknown identity state
- pseudonymityState of using aliases
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
- data protectionSecuring sensitive information
identity protection · metadata · traffic analysis · plausible deniability · Tor · VPN · encrypted email · private browsing · cloaking · digital cash
encryption
Converting data into code
- RSAPublic-key encryption algorithm
- AESSymmetric encryption standard
- digital signatureEncrypted verification of sender
cryptanalysis · hash · algorithm · steganography · symmetric · asymmetric · nonce · salt · end-to-end
libertarian
Anti-statist political adherent
- anarchismPhilosophy rejecting state authority
- anti-authoritarianismOpposition to concentrated power
- decentralizationDistributing power from center
autonomy · civil liberties · free speech · government transparency · whistleblowing · statelessness · resistance · dissent · digital freedom · privacy rights
cypherpunksNSA
Federal cryptologic intelligence agency
FBI · surveillance state · Big Brother · Five Eyes · intelligence agencies
cypherpunkssurveillance state
Government that watches all
Big Brother · authoritarians · totalitarians · Stasi · statists
cypher, cyphers, cyphered, cipher, ciphers, ciphered, ciphering, punk, punks