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:

• Humanity Protocol secures $30M funding to challenge Worldcoin with decentralized identification

• Worldcoin Foundation introduces open source 'secure Multi-Party Computation' system for enhanced data protection

Zooming into ZK:

• Lens Network migrates to zkSync for scalable Web3 social infrastructure

• ZK project Hylé secures $2.6M in funding led by Framework Ventures

• Pudgy Penguins achieves milestone with 1M plush units sold in under a year

• ZK Proofs and decentralized identity systems enhancing privacy protocols in the face of regulatory pressure

• Starknet AI models verify complex computations with ZK Proofs

• Hope rises as $20M returns to ZKasino multisig amid exit scam accusations

• Lens Protocol ventures beyond Polygon, introducing Lens Network with zkSync for enhanced social experience

• Hylé secures $2.6M led by Framework for ZK Proof verification blockchain

• Gateway.fm introduces Node-as-a-Service (NaaS) solution for simplified node management

• Arcium raises $5.5M for parallelized confidential computing network

Op-Ed:

• Understanding Ethereum Rollups: The differences between Optimistic and Zero-Knowledge rollups

• Blockchain: The solution to AI's monopoly on power and privacy

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

The Worldcoin Foundation unveiled its novel Secure Multi-Party Computation (SMPC) system, emphasizing a new benchmark for data protection, particularly regarding biometric data, with the system now open-sourced on GitHub for universal access. This system represents a significant stride in safeguarding sensitive information, as evidenced by the migration of iris codes to the SMPC framework, resulting in the secure deletion of the previous uniqueness-checking system.

Starknet, Ethereum's Layer-2 blockchain, is preparing to introduce AI agents capable of autonomously executing on-chain tasks like yield optimization and portfolio management. Spearheaded by Giza, a firm dedicated to integrating AI into blockchains, these agents are set to debut on Starknet by the end of June. Utilizing the Starknet programming language Cairo, the AI models are designed to verify intricate computations using Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZK-proofs) developed by StarkWare. These ZK-proofs ensure privacy while authenticating information, offering a secure environment for users to interact with AI-driven smart contracts.

Lens, a project overseen by Stani Kulechov, is launching its own blockchain network, Lens Network, under the umbrella of Avara. Built on Matter Labs' ZK Stack, the network will roll out in phases, starting with a Validium phase using ZK compression techniques on Ethereum, ensuring data accessibility, and progressing to separate Validium chains to support various social network use cases. The final phase, Volition network, will combine rollups and Validium for enhanced security and flexibility.

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.

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:

• Humanity Protocol secures $30M funding to challenge Worldcoin with decentralized identification

• Worldcoin Foundation introduces open source 'secure Multi-Party Computation' system for enhanced data protection

Zooming into ZK:

• Lens Network migrates to zkSync for scalable Web3 social infrastructure

• ZK project Hylé secures $2.6M in funding led by Framework Ventures

• Pudgy Penguins achieves milestone with 1M plush units sold in under a year

• ZK Proofs and decentralized identity systems enhancing privacy protocols in the face of regulatory pressure

• Starknet AI models verify complex computations with ZK Proofs

• Hope rises as $20M returns to ZKasino multisig amid exit scam accusations

• Lens Protocol ventures beyond Polygon, introducing Lens Network with zkSync for enhanced social experience

• Hylé secures $2.6M led by Framework for ZK Proof verification blockchain

• Gateway.fm introduces Node-as-a-Service (NaaS) solution for simplified node management

• Arcium raises $5.5M for parallelized confidential computing network

Op-Ed:

• Understanding Ethereum Rollups: The differences between Optimistic and Zero-Knowledge rollups

• Blockchain: The solution to AI's monopoly on power and privacy

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

The Worldcoin Foundation unveiled its novel Secure Multi-Party Computation (SMPC) system, emphasizing a new benchmark for data protection, particularly regarding biometric data, with the system now open-sourced on GitHub for universal access. This system represents a significant stride in safeguarding sensitive information, as evidenced by the migration of iris codes to the SMPC framework, resulting in the secure deletion of the previous uniqueness-checking system.

Starknet, Ethereum's Layer-2 blockchain, is preparing to introduce AI agents capable of autonomously executing on-chain tasks like yield optimization and portfolio management. Spearheaded by Giza, a firm dedicated to integrating AI into blockchains, these agents are set to debut on Starknet by the end of June. Utilizing the Starknet programming language Cairo, the AI models are designed to verify intricate computations using Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZK-proofs) developed by StarkWare. These ZK-proofs ensure privacy while authenticating information, offering a secure environment for users to interact with AI-driven smart contracts.

Lens, a project overseen by Stani Kulechov, is launching its own blockchain network, Lens Network, under the umbrella of Avara. Built on Matter Labs' ZK Stack, the network will roll out in phases, starting with a Validium phase using ZK compression techniques on Ethereum, ensuring data accessibility, and progressing to separate Validium chains to support various social network use cases. The final phase, Volition network, will combine rollups and Validium for enhanced security and flexibility.

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.