In this eye-opening episode of Cypherpunk'd, we sit down with Carl Dong, former Bitcoin Core developer and founder of Obscura VPN, who exposes the dirty secrets of the VPN industry. Carl shares his journey from escaping China's Great Firewall to becoming one of Bitcoin Core's top five contributors. Learn how traditional VPNs are essentially "toxic waste" collectors of your personal data, and why he's building a revolutionary two-hop system that physically CANNOT track your online activity. Discover: - Why Carl calls user data "toxic waste" and how it creates massive liability - The shocking truth about "no logs" VPN policies (hint: they're just pinky promises) - How growing up watching China's Great Firewall shaped his obsession with privacy - The revolutionary "two-hop" system that makes it physically impossible to track you - Why transparency and open-source code is the only way to earn trust in 2025 Whether you're concerned about government surveillance, corporate data collection, or just want to understand how to protect your digital rights, this conversation is essential viewing for anyone who values their privacy in our increasingly connected world. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 03:15 - Carl Dong’s Journey: From Shanghai to Web3 08:42 - The Future of VPNs: Why Obscura is Different 15:00 - The Problem with User Data and Privacy Hoarding 22:30 - Obscura’s Two-Party Relay Explained 28:45 - How Web3 and Zero-Knowledge Proofs are Shaping the Internet 34:00 - Privacy Misconceptions and How to Protect Your Data 41:00 - What’s Next for the Fight for a Free Internet? 👉 Check out Obscura VPN and get started with ultimate privacy today: Obscura.net To Connect With Us👇 LinkTree: https://t.co/GR12eKn4Ny X: https://twitter.com/protocolpulseHQ Discord: https://discord.gg/JvURFuxs9k Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/ProtocolPulse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protocolpulse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@protocolpulse All Our Current Work: ConsensusProtocol.org/protocolpulse Disclaimer: The content provided in this video is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as financial or investment advice. The views expressed in this video are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Protocol Pulse. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and due diligence or consult a professional financial advisor before making any investment decisions. #DigitalPrivacy #VPNSecurity #BitcoinCore #Cypherpunk #InternetFreedom #PrivacyTech #ObscuraVPN
