CoinDesk Podcasts

The Breakdown With NLW Episode

Are the US Sanctions on Tornado the Beginning of a War on Privacy?

The U.S. Treasury Department’s OFAC has added Tornado Cash and all associated addresses to the sanctions list.
The Breakdown With NLW Episode
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This episode is sponsored by Nexo.ioChainalysisFTX US and NEAR.

In breaking news, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced on Monday that it was adding Tornado Cash and associated addresses to its sanctions list. It is seemingly the first time that an entire technology protocol, rather than just an individual or group of individuals, has been added to the list. NLW explores the discussion in the crypto community as well as the legal and technological implications.

See also: Crypto-Mixing Service Tornado Cash Blacklisted by US Treasury

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore, aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Nuthawut Somsuk/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

Are the US Sanctions on Tornado the Beginning of a War on Privacy?