gm, readers.

At Automata we work on protecting privacy and fairness. And in this newsletter, we find more reasons to talk about it. Explore headlines and catch up on the biggest crypto news in Web3 privacy.

This week:

• Worldcoin Foundation unveils World Chain developer preview ahead of Mainnet launch

• Privado ID launches web wallet to revolutionize privacy and streamline user interactions

Op-Ed:

• Enhancing supply chain transparency with ZK Proofs

Conversations you’ve missed:

• =nil; Foundation's CPO Avi Zurlo discusses the significance of horizontal scaling for blockchain technology, specifically through zkSharding for Ethereum

Zooming into ZK:

• ZKM to launch Bitcoin Layer-2 GOAT Network with 5,000 BTC in commitments

• PancakeSwap announces 2.4M ZK token airdrop

• Starknet to launch staking on Mainnet in Q4 following Testnet debut

• Pudgy Penguins and Unstoppable Domains launch .pudgy domains for virtual world access

• Hinkal to launch 'Shared Privacy Protocol' for cross-chain anonymity staking in DeFi

We dive into the details, so you don’t have to:

Interoperability protocol ZKM, co-founded by Metis co-founder Kevin Liu, announced plans to launch a Bitcoin Layer 2 solution called GOAT Network later in Q3. The network, which has already secured 5,000 BTC in commitments from institutional node operators, aims to be the first decentralized Bitcoin Layer 2 to share network ownership and fees. The project also plans to open a $5 million Series A fundraising round soon, with the goal of uniting fragmented liquidity across different blockchain ecosystems.

Eli Ben-Sasson, CEO of StarkWare, announced at EthCC that Starknet plans to introduce staking by the end of 2024 through a Starknet Improvement Proposal (SNIP). If approved by the community, the staking feature will first be launched on the testnet, with a mainnet release scheduled for Q4. The staking protocol will allow Starknet tokenholders to participate in network activities, with responsibilities and rewards increasing over time. The initial rollout will involve running full nodes and adhering to staking rules, with subsequent stages requiring real-time attestations and proving activities to secure the network.

Hinkal, an institutional-grade self-custodial protocol, is preparing to launch its "Shared Privacy Protocol." Dubbed the 'EigenLayer for Privacy,' this protocol facilitates cross-chain privacy through anonymity staking. By pooling shielded liquidity across more than 200 layer 1 and layer 2 chains, Hinkal aims to address liquidity fragmentation in DeFi and promote discreet trading. Hinkal leverages ZK-proofs and stealth addresses to ensure compliant and confidential transactions on major Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chains.

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This newsletter is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice or interpreted as investment advice. Cryptocurrencies are volatile assets and you should always do your own research before making any informed decisions when investing or trading.