Bitcoin Wallet Rivalry Escalates
A heated rivalry in the realm of Bitcoin privacy has taken a contentious turn as Samourai Wallet, creator of the Wasabi Wallet software, has launched a scathing accusation against its primary competitor, Wasabi Wallet. The allegations revolve around Wasabi’s educational project, Coinjoins.org, which Samourai claims is a calculated manoeuvre to divert attention from its recent partnership with chain surveillance firms to create a “compliant coinjoin.”
An analysis of the infamous PlusToken ponzi scheme and a tracing and demixing of a significant portion of the funds by the OXT team due to broken Wasabi mixing protocol.
Data and results reproducible. Report refuted by Wasabi team.https://t.co/52rPQbCtJV pic.twitter.com/XXbxLsB9lq
— Samourai Wallet (@SamouraiWallet) August 17, 2023
Samourai’s Explosive Accusations
The accusations came to light through a lengthy Twitter thread, where Samourai Wallet raised suspicions that Coinjoins.org was designed to obscure its engagement in the creation of a “compliant coinjoin,” a move viewed by some as contradictory to the ideals of privacy in the Bitcoin community. Despite the fervour of Samourai’s claims, Wasabi Wallet has yet to respond to the request for sources on the matter.
Further intensifying the conflict, Samourai Wallet cited the infamous PlusToken Ponzi scheme as evidence of Wasabi’s alleged compromised mixing protocol. Samourai argued that the deanonymization of PlusToken’s mixing traced back to addresses purportedly controlled by PlusToken, suggesting vulnerabilities in Wasabi’s protocol.
Privacy vs. Regulation
The tumultuous relationship between the two wallet providers is not new, with Samourai having previously voiced concerns over Wasabi’s Coinjoin implementation’s privacy shortcomings. The rivalry extends beyond just technical differences, as the two companies have ties to various research endeavours and developers in the Bitcoin ecosystem. However, scepticism looms over the allegations, as all of Samourai’s cited research stems from a single source – OXT Research, which has collaborated with Samourai Wallet developers. The one-sided nature of the accusations raises questions about the possibility of collusion and bias.
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The feud, while complex and heavily technical, reflects the ongoing struggle within the Bitcoin community to preserve user privacy while adapting to regulatory demands. The allegations underline the need for transparent research, expert analysis, and third-party validation to provide clarity on the intricacies of the dispute.
