It seems that the current ethos around blockchain and web3 is privacy, and being anon.

This honestly confuses me a bit, because I remember the *public ledger being a huge selling point back in 2017. I know sentiment was mixed even then, but this narrative seems to have evaporated.

What changed with the space?

Community Manager | @aothecomputer CM | Previous Engineer @ Intel

Consider this:

People like @vitalik.eth can't pay the rent without getting every detail of there transactions doxed and deeply analyzed, but the rest of the space is neck-deep in staying off the map as an anon. 

Sooo only anonymity for the little guys then?

Alternative perception: This is a sacrifice made by leaders so others can have their privacy. 
-A possible reason, but I feel this was something that was socially constructed rather than intended by design.

"Me? I'm just a Nobody"

https://twitter.com/JonnyRingo711/status/1699500209666154651?s=20

I am 100% for privacy, but more want to know when and why this narrative completely shifted away from being fully transparent in everything.

The issue I see with this, is that it isn't always a choice to publicize(or prove) your affairs if you have any kind of weight in the space, unless you follow really specific guidelines to stay hidden. People can connect the dots, and figure things out because it's designed that way.

I don't think the "public ledger" was ever about everyone's actions being public? As far as I can tell it was always about

(i) the system of rules being transparent, so "the fed" can't inflate
(ii) the ability to prove individual actions if you want to, whether for a single payment or to make your entire org open-book

IMO, when NFTs, airdrop hunters and over all deganisim entered the scene, it played a pivotal a roll in changing the narrative.

yeah if you want something to be private you shouldn't put it on a blockchain