The culture of cypherpunks - as depicted in [[The Crypto Anarchist Manifesto.pdf|The Crypto Anarchist Manifesto (PDF)]] and [[The Cyphernomicon.pdf|The Cyphermonicon (PDF)]] - is a unique blend of [[Libertarians|libertarianism]], cryptography, and technology. It's an ethos that champions privacy rights, freedom from surveillance, and the power of cryptographic tools to secure these ideals. *The Crypto Anarchist Manifesto* penned by Timothy C. May in 1988 provides a prophetic vision for the future where “crypto anarchy will allow national secrets to be traded freely". This quote encapsulates the core belief of cypherpunks: information should flow freely without governmental or institutional interference. May further states that “computer technology is on the verge of providing the ability for individuals and groups to communicate and interact with each other in a totally anonymous manner". Here he underscores another key tenet – anonymity. For cypherpunks, anonymity isn't about hiding; it's about preserving individuality against homogenizing forces. In contrast to traditional anarchists who may advocate physical resistance or protests against state control mechanisms, crypto-anarchists like May believe in leveraging encryption technologies as weapons for societal change. The Cyphernomicon - also authored by various contributors including Tim May himself - delves deeper into this culture. It describes how cryptography can be used not just for communication but also transactions (like Bitcoin), contracts (smart contracts), credentials verification (blockchain-based identity systems) among others. One notable quote from this document reads: “Cryptography will alter fundamentally our notions of identity…With digital pseudonyms...people will have more than one identity". This highlights their belief in fluid identities enabled by cryptographic tools which could liberate individuals from rigid social constructs imposed upon them. Another significant statement says: "privacy is not secrecy...A private matter is something one doesn't want everyone to know...Secrecy is something one doesn't want anybody to know. Privacy is the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world". This quote underscores their nuanced understanding of privacy, which cypherpunks see as a fundamental human right. Cypherpunk culture revolves around principles of freedom, privacy, and autonomy enabled by cryptography. They envision a future where individuals can interact freely without fear of surveillance or censorship - an ethos that continues to inspire blockchain product designers, marketers and developers in the community today.