Swiss blockchain startup, Nym Technologies, has invited the general public to have office in the side by side phase of its mixnet platform's user testing on April 8.

The privacy infrastructure promises advanced protection against mass-surveillance, and comes at a time when governments globally are expanding their powers in the name of fighting the COVID-xix pandemic.

The good mixer

Users are initially invited to run mix-nodes on the Nym testnet. A global network of mix-nodes will form the mixnet, which acts to irreversibly hide patterns and metadata in internet traffic by mixing data packets with those of other users.

Nym claims that, unlike VPNs and Tor, the mixnet can even defeat National Security Agency level surveillance which can passively monitor an entire network, as CEO Harry Halpin explains:

"With Nym, you lot can communicate freely without your net traffic revealing your metadata. It's even more of import now given increased surveillance due to the coronavirus. Nym's mixnet resists a global passive adversary similar the NSA that tin record all the traffic coming in and out of a network."

Nym's testnet volition roll out in three phases over the form of 2022. The beginning phase is the mixnet and prepare up of public mix-nodes. This volition be followed by the addition of validators, to fully decentralize the mixnet.

Finally, the third stage will see the implementation of rewards for those running mix-nodes and mixing packets to secure the data of their young man users.

The Nym mixnet will allow whatever blockchain or application wishing to provide enhanced privacy services to integrate into the network.

Zcash (ZEC) privacy coin creator, Electric Coin Visitor, took part in earlier invite-only testing, saying that, "ECC believe that network privacy is an essential layer of defence for cryptocurrency users."

Fight for your right… to privacy

In Halpin'southward opinion, personal privacy is currently being eroded by governments worldwide as they increase surveillance and monitoring of citizens in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19.

According to Halpin, one time these measures are in place, they may prove extremely difficult to roll back. He, therefore, believes that people must collectively human action now to preserve personal freedoms.