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:

• Rivalz Network launches an AI DePIN RollApp on Dymension

• Fire announces the sunsetting of its transaction simulator browser extension

• Cross-chain swap protocol Gasp (formerly Mangata Finance) raises $5 million in anticipation of its testnet launch as an EigenLayer Actively Validated Service (AVS)

• Fhenix teams up with EigenLayer to advance FHE coprocessors to empower encrypted data computing

• Avail collaborates with dWallet to introduce programmable Bitcoin to Web3 rollups

• DePin protocol by peaq readies for Mainnet debut as token offering looms

• Google's display of Bitcoin wallet balances ignites privacy concerns

• Worldcoin earns praise from Vitalik Buterin for addressing data privacy amid regulatory scrutiny

Op-Ed:

• Rapid growth of generative AI raises privacy concerns

Zooming into ZK:

• Zircuit launches Build to Earn program to reward ecosystem builders

• Polyhedra announces trustless, cross-chain Bitcoin token swaps with its zkBridge architecture

• Kelp DAO introduces natively restaked ETH on Scroll

• Layer N and Modulus launches AI Functions for enhanced application capabilities

• Zircuit unveils ‘Build to Earn’ initiative, rewarding developers for innovation

• Starknet aims to boost throughput with parallel transaction processing

• Horizen's Proof Verification Chain enters testing phase on Testnet

• GnosisDAO backs proposal for 'Hashi' integration to strengthen security in Gnosis chain canonical bridges

Conversations you missed:

• zkSync founder hails ZK Proofs as 'endgame' for blockchain scaling

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

Google has expanded its search capabilities to display cryptocurrency wallet balances across multiple blockchains, including Bitcoin, sparking a debate around privacy and centralization concerns. While some view this integration of on-chain data into Google's extensive search platform as a step toward mainstream crypto adoption, privacy-centric Bitcoin supporters have raised concerns about the centralized aggregation of such information by a tech giant like Google.

Fhenix, an Ethereum Layer-2 platform pioneering fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) in smart contracts, has disclosed its collaboration with EigenLayer to develop FHE coprocessors. These coprocessors, akin to ZK counterparts, specialize in analyzing encrypted data directly, enhancing on-chain performance while preserving privacy. Leveraging FHE coprocessors enables efficient execution of sensitive tasks without exposing personal information, unlocking new blockchain use cases. Secured by Fhenix's FHE rollup and EigenLayer's staking mechanism, they ensure economic correctness and faster confirmation times by eliminating the need for a fraud-proof period.

The Horizen blockchain team has rolled out its "proof verification chain" to testnet, positioning it as the latest addition to their modular blockchain stack. This network facilitates the exchange of $ZEN (Horizen’s native token) and verification of FFLONK Proofs from Polygon zkEVM instances. Integral features include a user-friendly proof submission interface enabling ZK rollups to seamlessly submit proofs for verification and an attestation mechanism published on Ethereum, enhancing transparency by validating proofs.

Connect with Automata on both X (Twitter) and Discord.

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.