Starting a new digital identity
This is a topic I think a lot about.  I don't have a lot of time this morning so I will just say a few things ...<p>First, the OP describes an eSIM for his mobile phone - in this case with a provider named "silent.link".  In my experience, eSIMs provide "voip" numbers and not actual "mobile" numbers.  This is an important distinction since <i>most</i> 2FA verifications[1] come <i>not</i> from a phone number, but from a "short code"[2] and voip numbers cannot receive SMS from a short code.  So you are quite limited in what services you can sign up for and maintain with just an eSIM.<p>Second, the term "threat model" does not appear in the article.  This is important because if your threat model is "everyone except state level actors" or "everyone but state level actors AND my bank" the possibilities open up <i>dramatically</i>.  I think there is a tremendous amount of benefit in remaining anonymous in relation to your carrier and the FAANGs and (various vendors) that is realistic to achieve - but anonymity in relation to state level actors is practically impossible.<p>Third, there is a big, giant blind spot in the entire chain of identity and that is the following:  VISA/MC <i>do not validate name and address</i>[3].  It seems like they do - and merchants believe that they do - but they do not.  This means you can use your bank card with <i>any name you like</i> and the minimal address match (which, in the US, is zip code).  I'm not going to diagram this out for you but if your threat model is (everyone except bank and state level actors) you now have the basis for a working pseudonym.<p>Fourth, a second blind spot in the chain of identity is a business tax ID (which you can get for free at[4]).  Many providers (like mobile carriers) ask for things like SSN, etc., but if you say "business" and give them a tax ID, it's like their brains turn off.  They typically don't even ask for ID.  You can initiate service over the phone.  You <i>may</i> be forced to pay a higher rate for "business service".<p>[1] gmail, your bank, even twilio (ironically).<p>[2] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_code" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_code</a><p>[3] AMEX does.<p>[4] <a href="https://sa.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp" rel="nofollow">https://sa.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp</a>