If absolutely everybody is a liar, it does not work.
Dozens of participants have sworn under oath that they are honest people and that they are telling the truth. You can find the journal of their attestations in the following page:https://github.com/privacy-scaling-expl ... _of_Tau.md
In the Perpetual Powers of Tau trusted setup, the security of the setup is grounded in the honest participation of its contributors. The project operates under the critical assumption that at least one participant in the ceremony must act honestly and without compromise. This principle is pivotal, as the security of the entire setup hinges on this integrity.
https://github.com/privacy-scaling-expl ... owersoftau
The PPTau generate very strong protections.
The US Treasury Department is even trying to ban their use:
https://www.cryptotimes.io/2025/03/28/u ... oot-notice