VII · Modern builders
Moxie Marlinspike
1980–
Founder of Signal · cryptographer · former sailor
Gave us
The Signal Protocol — X3DH key exchange, the Double Ratchet algorithm, sealed sender, prekey bundles. The crypto layer underneath Signal, WhatsApp, Skype, and Google Messages. End-to-end encryption for several billion humans.
The story
Lived on a sailboat for several years while building Signal. Rejected the idea of decentralisation for messaging — wrote a viral 2022 essay arguing centralised services are the only way to ship usable crypto. Stepped down as Signal CEO in 2022 but stayed on the board.
"Decentralised systems can move slowly because nobody is in charge. That is also their problem."
One more thing
Has a music album. Has lived on a boat. Has shipped end-to-end crypto used by half of humanity. Choose your hyphenated identity.