Signal is preparing to let users create an account without a phone number. The technical backbone is zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs): proofs that confirm a fact without revealing the underlying data. For anyone paying for overseas services or holding crypto, this isn't abstract cryptography — it's another step toward privacy in everyday tools.

What's actually changing

Today, Signal sign-up is tied to a phone number, which serves as both an identifier and a weak point: a number can be traced, linked to a person, or exposed through a carrier. According to the developers, phone-free registration will rely on zero-knowledge proofs. The same technology, they say, already underpins donation badges, backup payments, and group features.

Why it matters beyond the messenger

ZKPs are about proving "I'm allowed" without showing "who I am." In Signal, that means the system can verify your legitimacy without tying you to a specific donation, payment, or group. For an audience that pays for services by card or crypto, the logic is familiar: the fewer direct links between your actions, the less data leaks. The same principle is increasingly used in payment infrastructure — from transaction confirmation to compliance without overexposure.

What it means in practice

  • Less identity anchoring. A phone number stops being a mandatory hook for your account.
  • The tech is already proven inside Signal. ZKPs are used in donations, backups, and groups — so this is not a lab experiment.
  • No timeline given. The news describes a direction of work, not a release date.
"Zero-knowledge proofs are not only the technology behind donation badges and backup payments, but also behind groups. They can't tie you to a specific donation just like they can't tie you to a…"

Who should watch this

Anyone who uses Signal for sensitive conversations while paying for overseas subscriptions and services. The trend is clear: privacy is moving from niche tools into the mainstream. There's no concrete timeline yet, but the direction is set — and it's a logical extension of how ZKPs already work inside the app.

This material is for information only and is not financial advice.

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Sources

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