# Aztec: zkRollup Layer 2 + Privacy By [Aztec Network](https://paragraph.com/@aztec-network) · 2023-02-22 --- Aztec: zkRollup Layer 2 + Privacy --------------------------------- ### TL;DR : We’re scaling Ethereum Today we’re proud to announce Aztec 2.0, the Layer 2 Network — a scaling solution, with privacy at its core: * \*\*zkRollup based Layer 2 \*\*network, live on Ropsten * **Private sends** by default — shield and send your ERC-20s privately * **Social-key recovery** baked in * \*\*Scalable private access to DeFi \*\*(Uniswap, etc.) * \*\*200x gas reduction \*\*compared to Aztec 1.0 * **Secure by design**: all transactions are validated on-chain * \*\*Programmable Privacy with Noir — \*\*The private contract language These features implement the output of our world-class research team, who delivered [PLONK](https://aztec.network/research) and [Plookup](https://aztec.network/research) to the community over the past 15 months, and which are now the major standard in zkSNARKs. [Subscribe](null) Get Started Now --------------- Engineers can dive in straight away: * \*\*Documentation: \*\*[http://developers.aztec.network/](http://developers.aztec.network/) To see our network live on Ropsten or play around with our command line rollup service, these are the links: * \*\*Block Explorer: \*\*[https://explorer.aztec.network/](https://explorer.aztec.network/) * \*\*Terminal Demo: \*\*[https://terminal.aztec.network/](https://terminal.aztec.network/) Fast Privacy, Now ----------------- The classical Layer 2 architecture offers scalability today, and waits to address privacy later. Aztec is different. Our PLONK research allows us to use zkSNARKs in two very different ways: 1\. Each transaction is encoded as a zkSNARK, protecting user data 2\. These transactions are then batched by relayers using a further ‘rollup’ zkSNARK — this single rollup proof is then sent to Ethereum, scaling the network Using this technique, the network can scale on-demand up to **a hard limit of ~300 TX/S**, while preserving on-chain data availability. Cross-Asset Scaling ------------------- As a rule, rollups aggregate transactions that are ‘homogeneous’ — i.e. they’re of the same type. Because Aztec transactions are \*\*_all_ \*\*zkSNARK proofs, they can all be bundled into one zkRollup. Concretely, **private DeFi transactions can be bundled alongside zkDAI spends or Uniswap trades, all in one roll-up** Noir Language: Private Smart Contracts -------------------------------------- Introducing Noir — an open source scripting language that allows developers to easily write zkSNARK transactions compatible with Aztec 2.0. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/e5f233713a74f818828c97697587a9eb35f99821cbf3a07e8f6c86ec45083581.png) Sha256 Noir Circuit Noir gives developers the tools to write custom logic for mainnet protocols, from DeFi to capital markets and order-books. Noir gives engineers the keys to: * Custom private transactions * Signatures over any curve * Ethereum contract calls from circuits * Aztec Standard Library — efficient audited versions of common cryptographic primitives Accounts with Social Recovery ----------------------------- ![The Aztec account architecture](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/279a7bfb4e520816388908630b541a65491f12e40a8b3479d0329a93aa6fada5.png) The Aztec account architecture User accounts can be created **with or without a linked Ethereum address, and don’t need an initial on-chain transaction** to receive funds. Human readable aliases are built in — so now, you can be **@MontezumaII**, and not **0x48af9…** The headlines: * Accounts support **multiple keys** * **Social recovery** is baked in * **Spending keys** are divorced from encryption keys — this helps regulated apps keep neat, KYC-compliant records Gas Costs Slashed ----------------- Aztec 2.0 slashes Aztec 1.0 gas costs by 200x. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/b1bb240390ff7333b293f60768f941d79c6b33ab93d6660d30e3bccac77018a8.png) What You Can Do on Aztec Today? ------------------------------- * **Deposit:** Shield your tokens by depositing them in Aztec * **Private Payments:** Encrypted balances & identities — for all tokens * \*\*Multi-Device Recovery: \*\*Your assets are protected from lost keys * **Withdraw:** Take your tokens anonymously back to Layer 1 * **Escape Hatch:** Even if all rollup providers go down, your exit’s guaranteed All these features are provided with our [Developer SDK](http://developers.aztec.network/). Scalable Private Transactions Next Step: DeFi --------------- In November, the network will be upgraded to support scalable private access to DeFi.\*\* **This upgrade allow users to** **anonymously access DeFi transactions at a fraction of the gas price.** And,\*\* \*\*_without having to port DeFi protocols to layer 2._ Worked Example: Uniswap on Aztec Network ---------------------------------------- Let’s take a look at how DeFi works on Aztec 2.0: 1. A user **sends a portion of their Dai** balance to swap for ETH on Uniswap 2. The **rollup bundles** 100's of these transactions together into one trade 3. The **Aztec contract receives ETH** on behalf of these users 4. The **ETH is owned pro-rata** by the participants in the pool 5. Each participant benefits from a large anonymity set and **pays a fraction of the gas** for the investment Most DeFi protocols can be integrated in this manner and importantly using existing audited L1 code. Show me the code! ----------------- Starting today, developers can access the Aztec network via our TypeScript SDK. Simply run the following command to get going. yarn add @aztec/sdk The SDK runs in web, mobile and server environments. For detailed examples follow the link to the [**live docs.**](https://developers.aztec.network/) Keep Updated for 2020 Mainnet Launch ------------------------------------ We’ll soon be deploying to mainnet and announcing our bug bounty — stay up to date with the latest news by following us: * [Telegram](https://t.me/aztecprotocol) * [Twitter](https://twitter.com/aztecnetwork) Join the team ------------- We’re on the lookout for talented engineers and applied cryptographers. If joining our mission to bring scalable privacy to Ethereum excites you — get in touch with us at [hello@aztecprotocol.com](mailto:hello@aztecprotocol.com). [Subscribe](null) --- *Originally published on [Aztec Network](https://paragraph.com/@aztec-network/aztec-zkrollup-layer-2-privacy)*