Nostr Web Client

Little did we know that the initial issues we had would lead to a full on storm as the December demand came in to us that demanded the company behind Wasabi Wallet to perform AML and KYC checks on our users, but that was impossible to perform in any capacity. The first cracks started to show.

As the smaller thunderstorm settled did little we know we would be forced months later to perform AML checks on users by implementing a blacklisting for their coordinator in order to prevent dangerous elements towards the employees or the company to affect its operation.

I was extremely devastated over the blacklisting events but I didn't feel like giving up as how someone from the company just working one day at us have quit facing the first challenge around the corner. I had to deal with 4 months of urticaria from the stress during those time.

At this time, the company had a full turn around with Max Hillebrand becoming the CEO of the company, and a new tide of changes started coming around. We had a successful release of Wasabi Wallet 2.0 and a new era of blockspace efficient coinjoins started.

Karo Zagorus 1y ago

It was also the first time I have ever managed to get to the United States, with my colleague Daniel, for everyone he was like the company dad and was really fun to hang out with him all the time, although I feel like I was mostly annoying him.

Miami was quite the experience to behold.

I am personally extremely proud of some of my notable achievements at the company while I was there. I have single handedly shut down every and all attempts to discuss openly anything about the blacklisting that could have further endanger the company's operations.

I have maintained a clear and consistent orientation in our weekly meetings of what is the goal of the company with our communication regarding the blacklisting and how employees should handle it, this was a notable point of rift among some employee contributors.

I have successfully helped Vlad Costea to receive his sponsorship from Wasabi.

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Discussion

Karo Zagorus 1y ago

We once were respected. Your boy did this, got stoned for it. Don't mention it guys.

I have single handedly fixed the release stream by preventing our digital artist from standing up and leaving after being upset with how Max was organizing the release stream. My way always worked Max. 😘

I managed to sort out the search process for professionals for verifying the cryptographic implementation of Wasabi Wallet 2.0, this assured that the wallet functions properly and the guys didn't fuck up rolling their own crypto.

In Miami I have given an interview for @DN_no

which I consider one of the best unreleased conversations I have ever had about the role of Wasabi Wallet and Privacy in the world. They never sent us the video or posted any pictures for some reason, likely they were feds trying to dig up dirt on us, but they have failed because that video in itself was extremely exonerating for the company against all accusations.

Daniel let me drive the Mustang.

I let a furry into the Wasabi office once. (Was the night before the flight over to Miami.) @Tamastor

The Wasabi bobs.

But every once in a while, everything good have to come to and end. Although it have been a bit of time as my role have slowly diminished as Max and Rafe took over control. This is what I have called the beginning of the end.

Karo Zagorus 1y ago

I have attended wonderful conferences and I am glad I was able to talk to you guys while representing Wasabi out in the wild and being a consistent privacy advocate for the company, which have ultimate lead to my exit from the company.

If I were to give my self a good advice for my older self it would be that to never date someone who is addicted to any kind of drugs and to take a leave when one of your relative passes away, do not force a company above all at any costs. Should have said no when I should have.

The main betrayal otherwise was though done to me in Lugano at Lugano Plan B Forum when I was forcefully removed from the conference for wearing a privacy mask on site. I was extremely upset that back at home I was the problem, not the treatment that I have received at the conference, instead of holding my side, they protected those who dragged me out for absolutely no reason.

Still consider to have a beef over this, that I never managed to settle, that nobody literally held my side at home over my removal from the conference for absolutely no reason at all and it was referred to as a "disgrace" rather then a disaster for privacy at a conference.

Did years of consistency and representation of privacy meant nothing at this point? I have seriously considered laying off the mask and not attending any more conferences due to this experience. And I think I have ultimately did that in the end.

But the ultimate betrayal came after a payroll dispute I had with

Max over a leave period I needed to recover from the past months of stress, loss and other issues I had after going to the conferences. Don't understand me wrong, the problem here weren't the guys, I still consider Rafe and Max great guys and good leaders for Wasabi ultimately.

Karo Zagorus 1y ago

The main betrayers of this entire saga were two out of the three founders. Which I consider one of the biggest backstabs of the century in privacy's history. And it came from this two good birds:

Bálint Harmat, co-founder of zkSNACKs Ltd.

And Hadjú Gergely, previous CEO and co-founder of zkSNACKs Ltd.

The ultimate reasoning behind my expulsion from Wasabi Wallet was this reasoning:

"Your time have not yet come with this serious level of privacy representation, we think it should be used somewhere at a better place, because this is not for us right now."

When Bálint said these words, I understood clearly what was the problem, it was me and my mask at conferences and their fear of gaining the wrong attention of dangerous elements. But for me it was still what it was, a stab right in the heart. 💔

But overall, I consider myself lucky that I was able to call myself part of Wasabi Wallet's history. From the humble beginnings, to the ultimate end, and today marks the day for that.

Karo Zagorus 1y ago

I am lucky that I have met great people at Wasabi including (especially) @lontivero

And Marnix

Sorry if I have left anyone out, especially Spoti, Norbo and Dávid.

A brave new world is now in front of us and it is waiting for new privacy solutions to appear, new decentralized coordinators and inventive technologies that can bridge the overreaching power of authoritarian governments.

Freedom is calling!

But from now on, when ever you are at a conference, look for this Dragon prowling around! Can't wait to see you guys again when ever life will cross paths once more.