Crypto Leaders Slam X’s Country Display as ‘Mandatory Doxing’

The rollout of X’s new country display feature has ignited immediate backlash from prominent figures in the cryptocurrency space, with Uniswap founder Hayden Adams characterizing the mandatory location disclosure as ‘mandatory doxing.’ The strong terminology reflects deep-seated concerns within the crypto community about privacy and data sovereignty. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin echoed these concerns, describing the feature as ‘risky’ while acknowledging some potential benefits.

The reaction from these blockchain pioneers highlights the fundamental tension between platform transparency and user privacy that has become increasingly relevant in social media governance. For cryptocurrency leaders like Adams and Buterin, whose work revolves around decentralized systems and user sovereignty, mandatory location disclosure represents a significant departure from the privacy principles that underpin their technological innovations. The immediate and forceful response suggests this feature touches on core values within the crypto ecosystem.

X director of product Nikita Bier announced the feature’s implementation on Saturday, framing it as a measure to ensure platform integrity and allow users to verify information. This positioning aligns with X’s broader efforts to combat misinformation and create a more transparent social media environment. However, the platform’s justification clashes directly with the privacy expectations of many users, particularly those in sensitive positions or jurisdictions.

The crypto community’s reaction underscores how location data can be particularly sensitive for individuals involved in digital assets. For developers like Hayden Adams of Uniswap and Vitalik Buterin of Ethereum, whose projects have global reach and face varying regulatory environments, forced location disclosure could create security risks or regulatory complications. The term ‘mandatory doxing’ suggests that users perceive this not as voluntary information sharing but as compelled exposure of personal data.

While joining the criticism of X’s new feature, Vitalik Buterin offered a more nuanced perspective than Adams’ outright condemnation. The Ethereum co-founder acknowledged that some accounts would eventually ‘find ways to pretend to be from countries that they are not,’ suggesting the feature might prove ineffective against determined bad actors. This observation points to potential limitations in the technical implementation of the country display system.

Buterin also noted that initially, the change could have positive effects, specifically mentioning increased visibility into how people from different communities feel about various issues. This balanced assessment reflects Buterin’s reputation for thoughtful analysis of technological implementations. However, his primary characterization of the feature as ‘risky’ indicates that the potential benefits do not outweigh the privacy concerns for many users in the crypto space.

The controversy surrounding X’s country display feature represents a broader clash between traditional social media governance models and the privacy-centric values of the cryptocurrency community. For platforms like X that are increasingly integrating crypto features and communities, this incident highlights the challenges of balancing platform security with user expectations around data sovereignty.

The strong reactions from Hayden Adams and Vitalik Buterin signal that privacy features remain a critical concern for crypto leaders engaging with mainstream social platforms. As social media companies continue to implement new verification and transparency measures, they must navigate the competing priorities of platform integrity and user privacy—particularly when dealing with communities that have built their technological foundations on principles of decentralization and data protection.