Bitcoin Privacy Essentials

Join us for a practical, no-nonsense deep dive from Michael Welnick into bitcoin privacy and operational security (OPSEC), where we’ll unpack how your data is collected, linked, and used—and what you can realistically do about it.

This talk explains fundamentals of pseudonymity, addresses, and UTXOs, and building up to real-world tactics like avoiding address reuse, managing UTXOs, and separating KYC from non-KYC coins. We’ll explore network-level protections like VPNs and Tor, the importance of running your own node, and advanced transaction techniques such as CoinJoin, PayJoin, Stonewall, and Lightning to improve privacy in practice. Along the way, we’ll cover common pitfalls like change outputs and toxic change, as well as broader OPSEC considerations—including social risks and the so-called “$5 wrench attack.” Whether you’re new to Bitcoin or already deep in the space, this session provides a grounded approach to help significantly reduce your exposure.

We'll be in the private room upstairs, where we have a dedicated server and food/drinks available for purchase. Come hungry and enjoy good times with good bitcoiners!

Thanks to everyone who makes this group possible. If you'd like to continue supporting the meetup you can do so here: https://donate.azb.tc/goal

See you at Social Hall!