- This is an encrypted smart contract ecosystem
- It’s radically different from zkEVM
Aztec Labs unveiled a roadmap for hybrid zkRollup Level 2. It will be called Aztec. This is an encrypted architecture for using blockchains without revealing user identifying information.
So, the protocol will be based on zero-knowledge (zero-disclosure proof) technology. It is designed to perform smart contracts in a private and scalable way.
“The developers created the Ethereum blockchain to optimize public consensus through proprietary privacy.
And privacy solutions often don’t support a complex ecosystem of decentralized applications,” the company wrote in its press release.
Aztec promises to solve this problem. Their project combines private and public performance in one ZK rollup. This technology is fundamentally different from other ZK rollups for the Ethereum blockchain.
With Aztec, the encrypted transaction occurs exclusively on the user’s device, unlike other ZK rollups today.
In December, London-based startup Aztec Network closed a $100 million Series B funding round. The investment will increase the development team from 40 to 80 people.
In March, Aztec announced the closure of its Aztec Connect protocol. They gave users 1 year to withdraw funds.