Signal, the well-known encrypted messaging service, has taken a decisive step to enhance user privacy with plans to allow account registrations without a phone number. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has expressed unwavering support for this initiative, aligning with his long-standing prioritization of user data privacy.
What Drives Buterin’s Backing?
Vitalik Buterin, a pivotal figure in the digital currency domain, has a history of endorsing initiatives that prioritize user privacy. His advocacy centers on preventing concentrated data aggregation, a principle he articulated in a compelling essay in April 2025. Buterin is committed to ensuring that users maintain control over their information, which he sees as a significant power in the digital world.
In a show of robust support, Buterin provided substantial monetary donations to the Signal Foundation and SimpleX Chat in November 2025. Each received 128 ETH, underscoring Buterin’s appreciation for their efforts in permitting account creation free from personal identifiers like phone numbers. He commended these organizations for their dedication to securing user metadata and privacy.
Buterin highlighted that Sybil and denial-of-service resistance are complex without relying on traditional identifiers like phone numbers, and praised ongoing efforts to find privacy-preserving alternatives.
How Will Signal Implement This Change?
Currently, Signal mandates a phone number for new user accounts. However, recent updates have shown that the app is evolving to support registrations devoid of phone numbers. The future accounts will be completely separate from those linked to phone numbers, presenting a new frontier for user privacy.
According to information from Signal’s server updates, these identities will remain distinct from existing accounts. Users won’t have the option to detach phone numbers from existing accounts or add them to phone-free ones—this feature is reserved for new users only.
Signal’s CTO, Ehren Kret, has publicly addressed the necessity of overcoming technical hurdles, primarily to curb mass account creation by potential attackers. Kret suggested that imposing a sign-up cost, which may not necessarily be monetary, could mitigate this issue.
“We gotta figure out some way to induce a cost for signing up without a phone number,” Kret explained, adding that implementation might not necessarily require a financial fee.
Signal’s initiative, alongside Ethereum’s ongoing privacy enhancements, points towards a shared vision:
- Both platforms are working to minimize reliance on personal identifiers.
- Signal is moving towards eliminating phone numbers from registration processes.
- Ethereum aims to keep transaction data uncensorable and unlinked to specific users.
The developments at Signal have elicited support from privacy advocates across the globe. As these privacy measures evolve, they mark a tremendous step forward in reducing personal data reliance across digital platforms. With key industry figures like Vitalik Buterin championing these changes, the move signifies a collaborative effort to make digital spaces safer and more autonomous for users worldwide.
