Doxx (Dox) — What Does It Mean in Crypto?

In the cryptocurrency world, doxxing means publicly revealing a person's real identity or private information, usually without their consent. This information, often gathered from various online sources, is then circulated on the internet to expose, harass, or cause financial harm to the target. While not unique to crypto, doxxing is a significant threat in the space, especially for decentralized projects and anonymous figures, as it can lead to severe real-world consequences like threats, stalking, and blackmail for those targeted.

Why doxxing is a threat in crypto:

• Anonymity: Many crypto projects and individuals aim to be pseudonymous or anonymous to protect themselves from threats and maintain privacy. Doxxing strips away this anonymity, making individuals vulnerable.
• Decentralized Projects: Projects with anonymous or pseudonymous teams can be vulnerable to doxxing, which can damage confidence in the project and lead to its collapse if key figures are exposed and threatened.
• Financial Exploitation: Doxxing can reveal private financial information, making targets susceptible to financial scams, extortion, or even physical theft.
• Real-World Consequences: The information revealed can be used for real-world harassment, leading to physical harm, threats, and emotional distress for the victim and their families.

How doxxing happens:

• Online Data Gathering: Doxers collect "documents" (dox) from various online sources, including social media, public records, and data broker websites.
• Malicious Intent: The gathered information is then published online, often with the intent to punish, intimidate, or humiliate the victim.

Doxxing is a significant concern in the crypto community because it directly attacks the core principles of anonymity and privacy that many users and developers rely on.