Women in Web3 Privacy

A new collective called Women in Web3 Privacy is aiming to revive cypherpunk principles in the crypto space.

The group, officially linked with the leading think-and-do tank Web3privacy, focuses on providing women with the necessary tools and knowledge to navigate the male-dominated crypto industry.

> “There's been this resurgence of cypherpunk values right now in the web3 space. Everyone's shouting, ‘oh, be cypherpunk, blah, blah, blah,' but no one's actually teaching the values or educating people on the privacy tools,” said Ann Brody, a PhD candidate at McGill University studying Ethereum culture, in an interview with The Block.

Brody noted that there is a specific need for addressing women’s privacy issues in the ecosystem, which differ from mainstream concerns.

‘Do the Work’

Crypto’s mainstream perception often frames it as “a solution in search of a problem.” Despite its growth over the past decade and a half, clear use cases and a defined user base remain scarce.

This moment has prompted industry leaders to refocus discussions on the initial principles of crypto. For example, an Ethereum creator previously advocated to “make Ethereum Cypherpunk Again.”

> “Stop throwing around the term cypherpunk aimlessly and actually teach people the values and the history. Be a mentor. Do the work,” said Brody.

Since its inception, the 40-member group has published guides, created social media platforms, and organized educational events for the upcoming DevCon conference in Bangkok, Thailand. They also aim to address related topics, such as research on period-tracking apps for women in regions where abortion is banned.

> “The tech space is still largely male-dominated, imposing a particular style that others must adopt to be heard and succeed. WIP provides a conducive environment for women to learn, explore, and discuss in ways that feel more natural,” said Ais Connolly, a founding member and head of privacy at TACEO.

‘She’s a Work of Art. It’s a Political Statement.’

The collective collaborates with an AI chatbot named Fiona to produce educational content and answer questions. The pseudonymous artist Ooli, Fiona's creator, developed the chatbot using group chat messages, giving it a uniquely expressive personality.

> “She just speaks her mind. She's not polite. Contrary to Siri, who’s an assistant, this one is not your assistant. She's a work of art. It’s a political statement,” Brody explained.

“I hope Fiona demonstrates that female AIs can exist beyond AI girlfriends,” Ooli added.

A WIP member who identifies as Park stated, “For privacy in crypto, there are significant gaps in adopting a technological ideology that was supposed to be the core of crypto. Women seem to be leading the charge to bring attention back to this issue and advocate for necessary changes.”