Is Doxxing Yourself Worth It?

William A.
E³ — Entertain Enlighten Empower
3 min readMar 5, 2024
Image by Freepik

Whether you're new to Web3 or have been in the space for a while, there's an important question you should ask yourself: "Should I doxx myself or not?"

Let's take a moment to explore what this means.

At its core, doxxing is the act of sharing personal information online without someone's consent. In some cases, it's done with malicious intent.

But “doxxing yourself” refers to you willingly sharing public information about yourself. This might include your name, workplace, and other personal details.

Why would you want to doxx yourself?

It's simple; being open about your identity is a matter of authenticity and credibility. It can be done to build trust with your audience, allowing people to see the face behind the brand.

And it’s true because if I were to buy into an NFT or Token, the very fact that the founder of the project or members of the team have doxxed themselves provides a level of trust.

On the other hand, some people (like me) choose to remain anonymous to protect themselves from online harassment or because they value their privacy.

And let's be real, there's also a certain level of coolness factor to staying anonymous 😎.

Things to consider before you doxx

Before you decide to doxx yourself, there are several things you should consider:

• Are you prepared to deal with the increased scrutiny and attention that comes with being public?

• Will your personal life be affected (kids, wife, parents)?

• Are you ready to deal with the backlash if something goes wrong?

• Will it add value to your brand or project, or do you want to do it because everyone is doing it?

Do remember that there are successful people in Web3 who choose to remain anonymous, such as 0xngmi, the anonymous founder of DefiLlama.

Steps to Protect Your Privacy

Should you decide to go ahead with doxxing, here are a few steps to take to protect your privacy.

🔹 Consider using a nickname when revealing your identity online.

This will help you maintain a degree of anonymity while still being able to engage with your audience.

Just as Garga, (the Co-founder of Yuga Labs) did, before he got doxxed.

🔹 Be cautious about sharing personal information.

Even with a nickname, you should also be mindful of what personal information you share online.

Only share what is necessary & relevant, and avoid revealing sensitive information like your house address or bank account details (you might not write it on the net, but info can get revealed by the pics you post).

🔹 Keep Your Accounts Separate

Consider keeping your personal and professional online accounts separate.

This will help you maintain a level of privacy while still being able to engage with your audience.

🔹 Be prepared for the consequences

Despite taking steps to protect your privacy, there's always a risk involved in doxxing.

You may face criticism or even harassment.

Be prepared for the potential consequences & have a plan in place to deal with them if they arise.

Final Thoughts

Doxxing can be a great way to build trust with your audience, but it's important to weigh the risks before making a decision.

So, what do you think?

Will you doxx or remain anonymous?

And it's a wrap.

If you found this insightful, do give a clap and subscribe to my newsletter where I break down complex Web3 concepts and topics.

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William A.
E³ — Entertain Enlighten Empower

Writer • Techie 👨‍💻 • i write on Web3, self-development & tech