In this episode of the Owl Explains Hootenanny podcast, host Helen Kim from Ava Labs leads a compelling discussion with three of our legal experts Diego Ballon Ossio, Stephanie Ohira, and Rita Flakoll.

What is discussed?

The panel explores the complex tension between blockchain’s defining features—immutability, decentralization, and pseudonymity—and the stringent requirements of data privacy laws like the GDPR. They unpack how concepts like data controllers and processors apply (or don’t) in permissionless blockchain environments, and why the inability to erase or alter data poses a fundamental challenge to privacy rights.

The episode also dives into recent regulatory developments, including draft guidelines from the European Data Protection Board and the UK’s ICO, which take a strict stance: technical limitations are not an excuse for non-compliance. The conversation touches on pseudonymized data, the implications of a recent CJEU case, and the broader regulatory landscape.

The takeaway?

Blockchain builders must tread carefully, balancing innovation with compliance, and staying alert to evolving interpretations of privacy law in the Web3 era.

🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts