Edward Snowden, the champion of privacy, has issued a stark warning to Bitcoin developers: prioritize privacy features now, or risk losing it forever. His call to action comes amidst a rising tide of U.S. government pressure on crypto mixers, services designed to anonymize transactions.

"This is the final warning," Snowden declared on his X platform. "The clock is ticking" for Bitcoin to integrate privacy at its core, a battle cry echoed by over 8,400 users who liked his post.

This urgency stems from the recent shutdown of Coinjoin by Wasabi Wallet. Citing a lack of clear regulations in the U.S., the mixer's developer, zkSNACKs, decided to throw in the towel. This move follows a string of government crackdowns on crypto mixing services.

Just last year, the U.S. pointed its finger at Tornado Cash, accusing its founders of money laundering and facilitating transactions for North Korea's Lazarus Group. Similar charges landed the founders of Samourai Wallet in hot water last month, raising fears that self-custody wallets could be deemed unregistered money transmitters.

Snowden slammed the Department of Justice's (DOJ) actions, arguing they criminalize tools that provide essential financial privacy. "Privacy must never be 'exceptional,'" he asserted, emphasizing the need for built-in privacy within cryptocurrencies.

Snowden, no stranger to fighting for privacy after his infamous NSA leaks, has become a vocal supporter of digital assets. He recently hailed Bitcoin as "the most significant monetary advance since the creation of coinage." His latest warning serves as a crucial reminder – inaction could spell disaster for Bitcoin's anonymity in the face of mounting regulatory pressure.

The future of Bitcoin's privacy hangs in the balance. Will developers heed Snowden's call and prioritize user anonymity, or will the once-opaque transactions become transparent under the government's watchful eye? Only time will tell.