# In Praise of Shadows: Why Ethereum Needs Privacy | Zac Williamson - Aztec

- Speakers: [Zac Williamson](https://streameth.org/speakers/zac-williamson)
- Channel: [Ethereum Denver](https://streameth.org/ethereum-denver)
- Date: 2025-10-09
- Duration: 20:24
- Topics: ETHDenver, Crypto, Web3, Blockchain, Event, Conference, ETHDenver 2025, ETHDenver 2024, Bitcoin, Ethereum
- Watch: https://streameth.org/watch/yt-u0Q-CHu9Z_A
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0Q-CHu9Z_A

## Description

The Web3 revolution seeks to address the sins of Web2. However, in doing so, it’s created an even worse outcome for users - users’ data is publicly available and makes them vulnerable to state-level censorship and adverse actions. This talk will address the philosophical as well as practical considerations of privacy in Web3. Privacy is an industry-wide issue and sits at the heart of all that is Web3. Understanding why privacy matters involves recognizing that it is not an isolated concept but a systems-level property required for our ecosystem to thrive and survive.