Aleph Zero Launches Subsecond Protection on Testnet, Delivering Client-Side ZK Privacy for DeFi

[PRESS RELEASE – Zug, Switzerland, October 17th, 2024]

Most zero-knowledge proofs are generated server-side for scaling, but zkOS Aleph Zero does it directly on the user’s device, offering privacy in a fraction of a second.

Aleph Zero, a leading blockchain platform known for its focus on privacy and scalability, announced the launch of the first feature of zkOS (zero-knowledge operating system)—Shieldon its EVM Testnet. This release marks the first opportunity for users to experience zkOS’ protective features firsthand, demonstrating the speed and privacy capabilities of Aleph Zero’s zero-knowledge proof (ZK) technology optimizations.

Lightning Fast Privacy

That Shield The demo release is an important milestone for Aleph Zero, representing its commitment to developing practical privacy solutions for the blockchain industry. ZkOS Aleph Zero allows zero-knowledge proofs to be generated on the client side—meaning data is encrypted locally on the user’s device and never left unencrypted—providing a high level of privacy without sacrificing transaction speed. That Shield The demo serves as the first practical interface for users to experience this privacy functionality, with zero-knowledge proofs generated in 0.5-3 seconds, ensuring that privacy has minimal impact on transaction performance.

“Privacy has long been a challenge in blockchain, often due to poor user experience,” said Adam Gagol, Co-Founder & CTO of Aleph Zero. “With today’s release, we are bringing one of the fastest client-side ZKs directly to users, combining privacy and performance. The Shield Demo launch offers a glimpse of how zkOS can bring privacy to DeFi without sacrificing speed or usability.”

How Shield Demo Works

That Shield The demo provides an intuitive interface for users to test the zkOS Aleph Zero privacy layer. Here’s how it works:

• Data Privacy: zkOS generates zero-knowledge proofs locally on the user’s device, ensuring that data remains private and secure.
• Transaction Flow: Users generate ZK proofs, send transactions to the relayer, and then execute on-chain—all while maintaining privacy.
• Fast Proving Time: The system provides ZK proofs in 0.5-3 seconds on most devices, demonstrating the speed of zkOS and its minimal impact on transaction times.

The Testnet version of ZkOS allows users to interact with the system and witness its capabilities, although Aleph Zero notes that privacy features will be built directly into the upcoming Common app.

Why zkOS Matters: A Glimpse into the Future

Launch Shield The demo on Testnet is just the beginning. Aleph Zero’s roadmap for zkOS goes far beyond this initial release, with ongoing efforts to simplify the user experience and introduce additional privacy features, such as ZK-ID and de-anonymity, to ensure privacy and protect against fraudulent use of the platform.

The system is designed to be easy for developers to integrate, providing a privacy framework that requires minimal cryptographic knowledge. This simplicity, combined with Aleph Zero’s fast client-side ZK proof generation, makes zkOS an essential tool for developers building privacy-centric applications in DeFi and other web3 sectors.

Opening Up Privacy to New Use Cases

The privacy space on blockchain has faced increasing challenges, such as regulatory scrutiny and delisting, often due to concerns over non-compliance. ZkOS Aleph Zero offers a new approach by providing a privacy solution that balances user confidentiality with regulatory requirements. Rather than focusing solely on anonymity, zkOS is designed to meet evolving user needs and compliance demands.

zkOS allows users to securely manage their assets across multiple blockchains, ensuring their transactions remain private. In contrast to traditional privacy methods that rely on centralized or hardware-based systems, zkOS operates directly on the client sidemaintain privacy without external dependencies.

Next Steps for Aleph Zero

As the Testnet release progresses, Aleph Zero is focusing on improving Shielding and zkOS for its Mainnet deployment. Users involved with the Shielding Demo will have the opportunity to be whitelisted for upcoming zkOS Beta testing on Aleph Zero’s EVM Mainnet.

About Aleph Zero

Aleph Zero is an ecosystem of blockchain solutions designed for speed, data confidentiality, and ease of development. It achieves efficiencies similar to conventional web2 systems, upholds strict standards for data protection through zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP), and offers a comprehensive toolkit for development on web3, from the WASM-based Rust environment to the EVM-based Solidity. Aleph Zero’s versatility is evident from its more than 40 actively developed use cases, demonstrating its adaptability across a wide range of sectors and applications. This use case is part of the engaged community and growing ecosystem of web3 applications supported by the Aleph Zero program.

For more information, visit https://alephzero.org/.

For any questions regarding this release, please contact josh@serotonin.co or ana@serotonin.co.