Hangout 3: Zero Knowledge Proofs & Ethereum's Privacy Future with Anish Mohammed

Meet Anish Mohammed, a cryptographer with 25+ years of experience who was building in crypto before it was called crypto. From organizing the first Bitcoin workshops in London to co-founding privacy protocols and now tackling AI existential risk, Anish has been at the forefront of every major shift in our industry.In this deep conversation, we explore why successful Layer 1 blockchains operate like religions, get a simple explanation of zero knowledge proofs that anyone can understand, and dive into how Layer 2s inherit security from Ethereum. Anish shares why current blockchain privacy models are unsustainable and discusses the critical intersection of AI risk and cryptographic guardrails.Key Topics:25 years in cryptography before crypto existedFirst Bitcoin workshops and early community buildingThe "religious" nature of successful blockchainsZero knowledge proofs explained through simple analogiesLayer 2 scaling and security inheritanceBuilding crypto tools for scientistsAI existential risk and hybrid threatsDeSci opportunities and realistic challengesMemorable Quotes:"All layer ones are like religions - you need believers willing to learn your language""Can you imagine everyone knowing every transaction in your lifetime? Nobody needs that.""We have a running risk of AGI, and between now and then, we need cryptographic guardrails"About Our Guest:Anish Mohammed is a cryptographer, security expert, and privacy protocol pioneer. Early Bitcoin community member, former Ripple advisor, Panther Protocol co-founder, and current builder of verifiable platforms. His work spans cryptography, AI safety, and making advanced privacy tools accessible to domain experts.Guest Socials:Anish Mohammed - Twitter: https://x.com/anishmohammedAbout This Series:This is Episode 3 of our 10 Years of Ethereum celebration - a volunteer-run project highlighting the builders who created our ecosystem. We're bringing you 10 weeks of conversations with amazing people who've been part of Ethereum's journey from idea to world-changing platform.Connect With Us:Twitter: https://x.com/10yearsofethAll Links: https://linktr.ee/10yearsofethHosts:Chinmay Patel - Twitter: https://twitter.com/chinmaydoteth | Farcaster: https://warpcast.com/chinmaydotethMarvyn Paul - Twitter: https://twitter.com/mpweb3wordsmith | Farcaster: https://warpcast.com/marvpTags: #Ethereum #ZeroKnowledge #Cryptography #Bitcoin #Privacy #Layer2 #AI #DeSci #Blockchain #Crypto #Web3 #EthereumHistory #BuilderStories #CryptoOG #TechHistory