# Privacy Matters, 4 By [Automata Network](https://paragraph.com/@automata-network) · 2023-08-10 --- gm, readers. At [Automata](https://www.ata.network/) 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: ---------- * Web3 privacy protocol Silent Protocol [adds](https://medium.com/silent-protocol/anon-do-you-know-what-makes-a-blockchain-say-gm-silent-protocol-x-cow-swap-92989e9993df) CoWSwap to its ecosystem * Privacy supporters [criticize](https://cointelegraph.com/news/makerdao-spark-protocol-block-vpn-users-controversy) MakerDAO’s lending platform Spark Protocol for blocking VPN users * PancakeSwap [launches](https://blog.pancakeswap.finance/articles/introducing-private-rpc-say-goodbye-to-front-running-and-enjoy-better-trade-rates) Private RPC in partnership with bloXroute * Metaverse platform The Sandbox [introduces](https://twitter.com/TheSandboxGame/status/1687084587061501952) KYC measures for staking processes Zooming into ZK: ---------------- * Privacy-preserving protocol zkPass [raises](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/zkpass-secures-2-5-million-122400144.html) $2.5M in a seed round with support from Binance Labs, Sequoia China, OKX Ventures, and others Op-Ed Feature: -------------- * CoinDesk [shares](https://www.coindesk.com/consensus-magazine/2023/08/07/some-users-may-want-an-everything-app-but-what-we-need-is-digital-sovereignty/) about the need for digital sovereignty in light of Elon Musk’s potential “everything app” **We dive into the details, so you don’t have to:** --------------------------------------------------- MakerDAO’s recently launched lending platform [Spark Protocol](https://thedefiant.io/makerdao-launches-spark-lending-protocol) faces backlash from Web3 privacy advocates over its refusal to allow VPN users to access its services, claiming it is necessary to prevent American users from using the platform. VPN protects user privacy by hiding IP addresses, preventing malicious actors from misusing compromised user information. [![User Avatar](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/2b70e23b08f877655896b24b9e72d5bfce082a5457ef7e841cad4dc4dcfc446f.jpg)](https://twitter.com/CSBastiat) [CS Bastiat ⚖️](https://twitter.com/CSBastiat) [@CSBastiat](https://twitter.com/CSBastiat) [![Twitter Logo](https://paragraph.com/editor/twitter/logo.png)](https://twitter.com/CSBastiat/status/1688244517525139456) I rarely get as disgusted as I am right now with MakerDAO's Spark Protocol. It's one thing to block US residents. It's a whole other thing to block anyone in the entire world who is using a VPN for privacy. This isn't just govt cuckery. This is an actual war on privacy. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/3f4f10d84cbdf5990115054248c68214f6189f248fd7c16cbf5db3ae3020361b.jpg) [![Like Icon](https://paragraph.com/editor/twitter/heart.png) 345](https://twitter.com/CSBastiat/status/1688244517525139456)[ 12:43 PM • Aug 6, 2023 ](https://twitter.com/CSBastiat/status/1688244517525139456) With plans to go live this year, Silent Protocol provides compliant and privacy-focused infrastructural support for Web3 applications. MEV-protecting DEX aggregator CowSwap is the third addition to Silent Protocol’s ecosystem, and allows Web3 users to trade and execute CoWs [privately](https://twitter.com/silentdao_/status/1688595051658592257). PancakeSwap’s latest [Private RPC feature](https://docs.pancakeswap.finance/products/pancakeswap-private-rpc), a collaboration with MEV-focused blockchain distributed network, bloXroute, is yet another attempt to outrun the frontrunners. Instead of appearing in the public mempool, user transactions are routed directly to block proposers, shielding them from bots and MEV searchers on Ethereum and BNB Chain. Automata Network’s [1RPC](https://1rpc.io) offers Web3 privacy protection via custom RPC endpoints, which refers to unique URLs that only the owner can use to prevent metadata leakage and exposure when sending transactions. [ 1RPC.io - Zero-trace relays for Web3 privacy -------------------------------------------- Protect your privacy with TEE-attested relays that erase metadata and verify AI execution across 64+ networks. https://www.1rpc.io ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/65063c8ea271e6c62156276fa9a2c6ea97c72db4908e05d00bc33835987b4405.webp) ](https://www.1rpc.io/) Connect with Automata on both [Twitter](https://ata.ws/twitter) and [Discord](https://ata.ws/discord). [Subscribe](null) _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._ --- *Originally published on [Automata Network](https://paragraph.com/@automata-network/privacy-matters-4)*