Zcash Founder Helped to Create This Anonymous Phone Service
Phreeli is a new U.S. mobile carrier that allows users to obtain phone coverage by providing only their zip code, with no other personal information required. Customers can pay their bills through methods that don’t reveal identity, including cryptocurrencies like Zcash and Monero, or credit card payments handled without storing payment data. Phreeli employs a system called “Double-Blind Armadillo,” based on zero-knowledge proofs, to confirm bill payment without recording personal or payment details. Users can opt to add recovery options such as an email or choose how to receive their SIM card, either through mail or via eSIM on the Tor network. The company, using T-Mobile's infrastructure but handling all data internally, is designed in response to the extensive data collection practices of mainstream carriers. Phreeli’s founder emphasizes that the service targets privacy-conscious individuals, not those seeking to break the law. The company has raised $5 million from a single, unnamed investor since its incorporation in 2019. Zooko Wilcox, co-founder of the privacy coin Zcash, advised on Phreeli’s privacy features but declined to provide specific technical comparisons to Zcash.
