Why is masking necessary in networking?

As a finance and cryptocurrency practitioner, I'm often fascinated by the parallels between financial privacy measures and those found in networking. So, the question arises: Why is masking necessary in networking? Could it be to safeguard sensitive data, ensuring that unauthorized individuals cannot access or intercept crucial information? Is it to preserve anonymity, allowing users to navigate the digital landscape without fear of being tracked or identified? Or perhaps, is it to maintain the integrity of the network, preventing potential attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities? I'm curious to understand the significance of masking in networking and how it relates to the principles of security and privacy that we uphold in the financial world.