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 collaborates with Alchemy to enhance infrastructure for upcoming World Chain launch

• Worldcoin token surges 12% on legal wins in Ecuador expansion and Kenya investigation closure

• Chamber of Digital Commerce raises privacy concerns over IRS crypto tax form

• Internet Computer launches verifiable credentials to safeguard online identities and public discourse

Op-Ed:

• The illusion of privacy: Unpacking the risks of 'privacy-minded' CBDCs

Zooming into ZK:

• Aave DAO unanimously supports deployment on zkSync

• Light Protocol and Helius Labs unveils ‘ZK compression’ to boost Solana app scalability

• ZKsync announces 'Elastic Chain' architecture in 3.0 roadmap for seamless multi-chain interoperability, takes aim at Polygon’s AggLayer

• Polyhedra introduces 'D-Expander' to revolutionize ZK Proof efficiency

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

Aleph Zero, a blockchain leveraging Polkadot's Substrate stack, has launched zkOS, an EVM-compatible privacy layer that swiftly generates zero-knowledge proofs in less than one second even on consumer devices. This innovation enables private transactions and dApp)interactions without exposing underlying data. Powered by Halo2 with KZG commitments for efficient proof generation, zkOS includes a zkToolkit to simplify integration for developers. Benchmark tests indicate zkOS can execute proofs in 600-800 milliseconds on MacBooks, highlighting its speed and accessibility.

Light Protocol and Helius Labs have also launched "ZK Compression" to enhance the scalability of Solana applications by using state compression to store data in Solana’s cheaper ledger space. This method significantly reduces storage costs, allowing for 100 compressed token accounts to cost around 0.000004 SOL, compared to the typical 0.2 SOL.

As part of its ZKsync 3.0 roadmap, ZKsync has introduced an "elastic chain" architecture, transitioning from a singular ZK rollup chain to a network of interoperable chains. This shift, initiated by the recent v24 upgrade, reconfigures ZKsync’s native bridge into a token vault to enhance connectivity among multiple ZK chains. Starting with ZKsync Era as the foundational layer, the network plans to incorporate over 20 chains by the end of 2024, using the ZK Stack software kit, streamlining interactions across chains through the Ethereum Multi-Chain Address (EMCA) standard.

Worldcoin has teamed up with Alchemy to bolster the infrastructure for its upcoming World Chain blockchain. This partnership grants World Chain developers access to Alchemy's extensive web3 development platform, encompassing core and data APIs, indexing solutions, and a suite of developer tools. Meanwhile, Worldcoin's WLD token surged by 12% to over $3 following positive regulatory developments. Kenya has concluded its investigation into Worldcoin's data collection practices, signaling a significant milestone.

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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.

Metadata

Aleph Zero launches zkOS for rapid ZK Proofs; Worldcoin and Alchemy partner for World Chain infrastructure. ZKsync 3.0 introduces Elastic Chain