US Financial Surveillance Agency Wants to Know More About Privacy Tech

The Treasury Dept. agency is asking privacy focused companies to participate in a virtual event aimed at boosting its understanding of privacy tech.

AccessTimeIconMay 27, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. UTC
Updated Aug 19, 2021 at 9:44 a.m. UTC

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

The U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) wants to increase its understanding of how privacy technology works, including those governing certain blockchain protocols.

The agency is expected to host a virtual program on Sept. 9 and is inviting companies "developing solutions to privacy issues" to participate, according to a press release on Wednesday.

  • Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
    13:18
    Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
  • Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
    05:10
    Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
  • The first video of the year 2024
    04:07
    The first video of the year 2024
  • The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
    40:07
    The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
  • FinCEN said the event will focus on the role of "privacy-preserving principles" in developing technical solutions that increase innovation in financial services while countering the well-worn narrative of illicit activity and national security risks.

    Those being asked to tag along to the agency's "Innovation Hours Program" include fintechs, regtechs, venture capital firms and financial institutions.

    Privacy solutions being targeted include cryptographic zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP) and homomorphic encryption. ZKP allows two parties to prove a value is true, such as x, without revealing the identity of either party.

    Though the concept stems from the 1980s, its technology has been bootstrapped to certain blockchain projects and protocols, including those used by Zcash and Mina.

    The agency is asking participants to demonstrate, in one-hour meetings, just how these types of solutions operate and how businesses use them. That includes ways in which the privacy solutions can be utilized for private and public sector efforts, per the release.

    “We support responsible innovation," said Michael Mosier, FinCEN's newly appointed acting director, "especially that which promotes the resilience and safety of our financial system and the American people."

    Mosier, who worked at blockchain surveillance firm Chainalysis as chief technical counsel before his departure in 2020, will likely bring additional knowledge regarding blockchain privacy to the agency's event.

    Those interested should submit a request online before July 23 and provide relevant background information regarding their firm's business and products, FinCEN said.

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information have been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.