Blockchain Censorship
Anton Wahrstätter, Jens Ernstberger, Aviv Yaish, Liyi Zhou, Kaihua Qin, Taro Tsuchiya, Sebastian Steinhorst, Davor Svetinović, Nicolas Christin, Mikołaj Barczentewicz, Arthur Gervais
Abstract
Permissionless blockchains promise resilience against censorship by a single entity. This suggests that deterministic rules, not third-party actors, decide whether a transaction is appended to the blockchain. In 2022, the U.S. ØFAC sanctioned a Bitcoin mixer and an Ethereum application, challenging the neutrality of permissionless blockchains.
Topics & Concepts
BlockchainCensorshipComputer scienceComputer securityPolitical scienceLawBlockchain Technology Applications and SecurityCybercrime and Law Enforcement StudiesCrime, Illicit Activities, and Governance