The cypherpunk movement emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s in a historical context marked by growing concern over privacy and individual freedom in the digital age. “Cypher” refers to cryptography and encryption (from “cipher” or “cypher”), while “punks” refers to rebellious individuals—rebels who use encryption tools and cryptography as shields and weapons. The term also evokes the cyberpunk genre of science fiction, which focuses on dystopian futures dominated by technology.