Musk sparks controversy with comments on 'Bitcoin-style encryption': is it a new encryption framework or just a marketing gimmick?
On June 1, Musk, the owner of X, revealed through a post that a new XChat message encryption feature would be launched on X, claiming it is 'built on Rust and employs a completely new encryption framework (in the style of Bitcoin)'. This statement drew a flurry of comments questioning the professionalism and accuracy of his terminology.
Bitcoin advocate Udi Wertheimer bluntly stated that Bitcoin technology does not possess any encryption properties. Taproot Wizards co-founder further explained that BTC uses cryptographic hash functions and signature verification for data integrity and ownership, but this mechanism does not involve message hiding capabilities, which is the core feature of encryption.
Everything in the Bitcoin protocol is public and transparent; anyone can view it, but it lacks privacy. Cryptographer Ian Miers compared it to a social media platform for bank accounts, stating, 'Everything you do is public, which is the exact opposite of privacy.'
Zcash co-founder also emphasized that BTC transactions rely on signatures for identity verification rather than encryption for confidentiality, and criticized Musk's statement as vague, pointing out that 'Bitcoin-style' and 'Rust' are not descriptions of encryption schemes nor strong indicators of the security of messaging applications.
Of course, there are supporters of Musk. Some speculate he might be referring to the SHA-256 hash algorithm, and computer engineer Wei Dai offered a benevolent interpretation, suggesting Musk might equate 'Bitcoin-style' encryption with 'peer-to-peer' or 'end-to-end' encryption methods. However, this claim has not been verified and has only intensified the controversy.
Coincidentally, just last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Tesla was looking for a new CEO, prompting Tesla to deny, stating that this was due to investor unease with Musk's controversial political activities and erratic online behavior. Although the board reaffirmed its trust in his leadership capabilities, the XChat incident may further undermine his credibility in the tech community.
As anonymous developer Yueya.eth noted, marketing teams often throw around cryptocurrency buzzwords without understanding their basic principles. In a tech ecosystem that builds trust on linguistic accuracy, Musk's vague wording brings more confusion than promotional effect.
