TRM Labs researcher Liam Glennon joins Ben Schiller to explore why privacy is becoming a critical feature for institutional crypto adoption, and how the industry is working to balance confidentiality, security, and regulatory compliance.
In this episode of Privacy Podcast, host Ben Schiller sits down with Liam Glennon, researcher and analyst at TRM Labs, to discuss the findings from his latest report examining how privacy technologies are evolving across the digital asset ecosystem.
Liam explains why institutional investors, regulators, blockchain builders, and financial institutions are increasingly focused on privacy, not as a way to avoid oversight, but as a necessary component of security, competitiveness, and mainstream adoption. The conversation explores emerging privacy frameworks, including view keys, selective disclosure, membership proofs, and zero-knowledge technologies, along with the tradeoffs that come with each approach.
The discussion also challenges one of crypto's longest-held assumptions: that complete transparency automatically leads to greater security. Using examples such as major blockchain exploits and evolving institutional use cases, Liam argues that privacy can actually strengthen security by limiting the information available to attackers while still enabling compliance when necessary.
From stablecoins and tokenized assets to regulatory expectations and the future of digital identity, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how privacy infrastructure may shape the next phase of blockchain adoption.
Why This Matters
- Why institutions are increasingly demanding privacy solutions in blockchain environments
- The difference between privacy and anonymity in modern crypto systems
- How view keys enable selective disclosure for compliance purposes
- Why transparency can sometimes create security vulnerabilities
- The role of zero-knowledge proofs in future financial systems
- How regulators are approaching privacy-preserving technologies
- Why stablecoins and tokenized assets may become major drivers of privacy adoption
- The challenges of balancing user confidentiality with anti-money laundering requirements
- How privacy technologies could become the "HTTPS upgrade" for blockchain
What We Cover
- Privacy is evolving from a niche feature into a requirement for institutional blockchain adoption.
- Selective disclosure mechanisms are emerging as a practical bridge between privacy and compliance.
- Security and privacy are increasingly interconnected rather than competing priorities.
- Regulators appear more open to privacy-preserving technologies than many industry participants assume.
- Stablecoins and tokenized assets may accelerate the adoption of privacy infrastructure across financial markets.
Guest
About the Show
The Privacy Podcast by Miden explores the intersection of privacy, identity, and emerging technologies. Hosted by Ben Schiller, the show brings together builders, regulators, and thinkers shaping what comes next in a world where data is power.
Executive Producer Michele Musso
Edited by the
Musso Media Team
Music: licensed.
All rights reserved. ©2026 Musso Media
What is Privacy Podcast?
The Privacy Podcast by Miden explores the future of privacy, identity, and trust in a digital world being reshaped by blockchain and AI.
Hosted by Ben Schiller, The Privacy Podcast dives into one of the most critical questions facing technology today: How do we build a more private, secure, and trustworthy internet?
A former journalist with over a decade of experience covering crypto and emerging technologies, including six years at CoinDesk, Schiller brings a sharp editorial lens to conversations at the intersection of privacy, blockchain, and digital rights.
At its core, this podcast is driven by a simple idea: privacy is not optional. It is foundational to the next phase of the internet.
As blockchain technology moves from experimentation to real-world adoption, privacy becomes essential for onboarding institutions, enabling enterprise use cases, and unlocking the full potential of decentralized systems. At the same time, it addresses a deeper, long-standing issue. The modern internet was built without effective privacy infrastructure, giving rise to what is often described as a surveillance-based economy, where personal data is exchanged for access to services.
This show explores how that model is changing.
Produced by Musso Media, The Privacy Podcast features conversations with leading builders, researchers, policymakers, and thinkers shaping what comes next.